TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Employment Rights

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions have taken place between the Government and the trade unions on employment rights.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department holds regular meetings with trade unions and employer organisations on employment rights.

Oil/Gas Reserves

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the current reserves of oil and gas are; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department's latest estimates show that at the end of 2004 reserves of UK oil and gas amounted to between seven and 17 billion barrels of oil equivalent, with a central estimate of around 11 billion barrels. In addition it is estimated that between six and 26 billion barrels could be produced as a result of further exploration and appraisal. Full details are on DTI's oil and gas website.

West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been received by his Department and Advantage West Midlands from organisations in north Staffordshire regarding the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy.

Ian Pearson: I am advised that neither the Department of Trade and Industry nor the Government Office for the West Midlands nor Advantage West Midlands has received any representations from organisations in North Staffordshire specifically regarding the Strategy.

Company Law Reform Bill

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he expects to make in the Company Law Reform Bill on tackling employment abuses by UK companies operating abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Company Law Reform Bill offers a fair, modern, and effective framework of company law, and will promote high standards of company behaviour and corporate governance. A company law bill is not the place to directly address employment abuses by UK companies operating abroad. We will continue to address such issues in other ways.

Company Law Reform Bill

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Whether he expects the provisions of the Company Law Reform Bill to help to prevent labour rights abuses by UK companies operating overseas.

Alun Michael: The Company Law Reform Bill offers a fair, modern, and effective framework of company law, and will promote high standards of company behaviour and corporate governance. A company law bill is not the place to directly address employment abuses by UK companies operating abroad. We will continue to address such issues in other ways.

Uganda

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the level of British business investment in Uganda has been in each of the last three years.

Ian Pearson: The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, show the UK's level of foreign direct investment in Uganda amounted to £54 million at the end of 2001, £25 million at the end of 2002, and £31 million at the end of 2003.

Nuclear Power Generation

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the future of nuclear power generation in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government will publish proposals on energy policy, including civil nuclear power, next year. Climate change and the reliance on imported energy supplies require an assessment of all options for future UK energy policy. These assessments will be made prior to the publishing of our proposals.

UK Manufacturing

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to limit the flow of manufacturing jobs out of the UK.

Alun Michael: The Government believe that we need a successful manufacturing sector with high skilled jobs and is committed to providing the right macro-economic conditions and support through the Manufacturing Strategy to help companies to compete and thrive in the global market.

Monopolies/Monopsonies

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review the terms of reference of the Office of Fair Trading in relation to local monopolies and monopsonies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No, I have no such plans. It is a matter for the Office of Fair Trading to consider the factors relevant to its analysis of markets in such circumstances.

Chinese Exports

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on EU trade restrictions on exports from China.

Ian Pearson: The textiles agreement between the European Commission and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce concluded in June and subsequently revised in September limits imports into the EU from China of 10 textiles and clothing products until the end of 2007. This agreement provided a level of stability for trade in these products and avoided the uncertainty of the alternative of a succession of product-by-product safeguard investigations

Debt Recovery

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs on increasing enforcement powers for financial institutions seeking to recover unsecured debts; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DTI was consulted on DCA proposals to increase enforcement powers for financial institutions seeking to recover unsecured debts, in particular proposals to widen access to charging orders, during development of the Effective Enforcement" White Paper of March 2003. DTI and DCA continue to liaise closely on the planned reforms of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and related issues.
	It is the Government's position that responsible creditors who are owed money and having gained valid judgments through the courts should have the right to enforce that judgment by the most appropriate means available.
	Such action is balanced by proposals to enhance consumer protections, including proposed tightening of the licensing procedure through the Consumer Credit Bill to tackle unscrupulous lenders at source, appropriate limits to the application of charging orders, and action to ensure greater use of time order" provisions.

Departmental Consultation

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list formal consultations being sponsored by his Department and its agencies; and what the (a) commencement date and (b) deadline for responses is in each case.

Alan Johnson: The information as follows:
	
		
			 Department/ Agency Title of consultation Commencement date Deadline for responses 
		
		
			 DTI Use of net and gross calorific values for calculating energy balances 28 July 2005 31 October 2005 
			 
			 National Weights & Measures Laboratory RRO for self-verification—Weights and Measures Act 1985 to include adjusters" 29 July 2005 29 October 2005 
			 
			 DTI Cost recovery arrangements for protected energy companies in energy administration 4 August 2005 27 October 2005 
			 
			 DTI Future sourcing of DTI energy price data 15 August 2005 11 November 2005 
			 
			 Insolvency Service Implementation of UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency in Great Britain 22 August 2005 14 November 2005 
			 
			 National Weights & Measures Laboratory Consultation on the draft Regulations implementing the Measuring Instruments Directive/MED 23 August 2005 14 November 2005 
			 
			 Patents Office Consultation on whether there is a continuing need for a UK Classification Key (UKC Key) 30 August 2005 22 November 05 
			 
			 DTI Part 9 Enterprise Act—easier release of information for civil court cases 23 August 2005 18 November 2005 
			 
			 DTI Consultation on proposals to implement two EC Directives on the safety of cosmetic products 8 September 2005 25 November 2005 
			 
			 DTI Statutory Review of the Renewables Obligation 19 September 2005 9 December 2005 
			 
			 DTI Notice pursuant to section 91(2) of the Fair Trading Act 1973—Revocation of Monopolies & Restrictive Practices (Dental Goods) Order 1951 28 September 2005 28 October 2005 
			 
			 DTI Notice pursuant to section 91(2) of the Fair Trading Act 1973—Revocation of Monopolies & Restrictive Practices (Imported Hardwood and Softwood Timber) Order 1960 28 September 2005 28 October 2005 
			 
			 DTI Notice pursuant to section 91(2) of the Fair Trading Act 1973—Revocation of Restriction on Agreements (Estate Agents) Order 1970 28 September 2005 28 October 2005 
			 
			 DTI Advancing equality for men and women: government's proposals for a gender duty 4 October 2005 12 January 2006 
			 Patents Office Consultation on proposed changes to the Patent Office's business hours for receiving and according dates to applications, forms and other documentation 12 October 2005 6 January 2006 
			 
			 Patents Office Modernisation and consolidation of the Patent Rules: An informal consultation 17 October 2005 30 November 2005 
			 
			 Export Credit Guarantee Department Interim Response to ECGD's consultation on changes to its anti-bribery and corruption procedures introduced in December 2004 21 October 2005 18 November 2005 
			 
			 DTI Amendment to the Noise of Outdoor Machinery Directive (2000/14/EC) 26 October 2005 23 November 2005 
			 
			 DTI Draft Order raising the Maximum Penalty for Persistent Misuse of Electronic Communications Networks or Electronic Communications Services to Tackle Silent Calls 31 October 2005 24 January 2006

Departmental Staff

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) consultants and (b) other self-employed persons are working for his Department; and what the cost is estimated to be (i) in 2005–06 and (ii) in each of the last five years.

Alan Johnson: The information is as follows.
	(a) As at 1 October 2005 a total of 332 consultants and agency staff were working in core DTI (excluding UK Trade and Investments and DTIs arms length bodies).
	(b) The Department's normal policy is not to directly engage self-employed people. However it does procure the services of individuals with specialist knowledge—often academics—to inform projects and policy decisions. These individuals are sometimes engaged directly, and at other times are remunerated via the budget for specific projects. Numbers of such individuals are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	(i) and (ii); The Department does not hold central records of the cost of consultants and agency staff as a sub-group of total costs for consultancy, agency and services contracts. The figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Nuisance Phone Calls

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to tackle nuisance telephone calls; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 14 October 2005
	The Government take the issue of nuisance telephone calls very seriously because of the distress they cause to consumers. The Communications Act 2003 provides powers to the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to take action against silent calls, including the imposition of financial penalties, against persons who cause unnecessary annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety through persistent misuse of an electronic communications network. Ofcom has announced a wide range of measures against silent calls and further detailed information is available from: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2005/l0/nr_20051031.
	In addition, my Department has issued a consultation document, in which we propose to increase the maximum penalty for persistent misuse of an electronic communications network from £5,000 to £50,000 and a copy will shortly be available from: http://www.dti.gov.uk/industries/telecoms/public_consultations.html.

Statutory Sick Pay

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will remove the upper age limit for entitlement to statutory sick pay as part of the age equality regulations.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is the Government's intention to amend provisions that will remove the upper age limit for entitlement to statutory sick pay in the draft Employment Equality (Age) Regulations which are due to come into force next year.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Goods and Services (Discrimination)

Chris Bryant: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what plans the Government have to prevent discrimination in the provision of goods and services.

Meg Munn: Current legislation outlaws race, sex and disability discrimination in the provision of goods and services. The current Equality Bill will extend this protection to cover religion and belief.
	We have made clear our intention to provide full rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people as soon as possible. We are considering the case for age discrimination legislation in this area via the current Discrimination Law Review.

Domestic Violence Action Plan

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what discussions she has had with the Solicitor-General on the impact of the National Action Plan for Domestic Violence on the number of successful prosecutions for related crimes.

Meg Munn: As a member of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence, I have regular discussions with the Solicitor General and other Ministers. Since the plan's March launch, prosecutions have risen, but it is early days and the plan outlines commitments to address this issue more fully.

Women Engineering Graduates

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what percentage of engineering graduates are women; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Munn: In 2002–03, 17 per cent. of students obtaining their first degree in Engineering and Technology were female. For postgraduate students the female percentage in 2002–03 was 23.1 per cent.
	The Government has invested a total £6.9 million into a resource centre to work specifically with employers enabling them to tackle the barriers which prevent girls and women seeing science and technology including engineering as an attractive and rewarding career. Although engineering remains an area of low female participation, the resource centre is working closely with other professional organisations, such as the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Engineering Technology Board, to develop strategic approaches to tackle this issue.

Breastfeeding

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government are taking to encourage acceptance of breastfeeding in public places.

Meg Munn: The Government are committed to the promotion of breastfeeding. We are examining women's experiences of feeding in public places through the National Infant Feeding Survey 2005, to inform our thinking in this area.
	Through the annual National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, the Department of Health encourages breastfeeding in public places.

Women High-flyers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what estimate she has made of the number of women in senior board positions in each of the last five years.

Meg Munn: Female-held FTSE 100 directorships have risen from 5.8 per cent. in 2000 to nearly 10 per cent. in 2004. The Cabinet Minister for Women will later this month be launching the 2005 Female FTSE Report produced by Cranfield university to see what further progress has been made. However, in 2004 17 per cent. of new FTSE 100 board appointments have been women, up from 13 per cent. in 2003 and 10.5 per cent. in 2002. The total number of female directorships in the FTSE 100 was 110, up from 101 the previous year. The number of boards with more than one female member has risen from 22 to 29 in 2004. It is disappointing to note that 31 of the FTSE 100 companies are run by men-only boards. Of the new women appointed in 2004, 33 per cent. already had FTSE experience and incoming non-executive directors are also far more likely than the directors they replace to have public or voluntary sector experience.

PRIME MINISTER

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to reply to the letter dated 16 May from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding the Tear Fund.

Tony Blair: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development replied to the hon. Member on 29 September in response to his letter of 16 May and his follow-up letter of 29 July. I have placed a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.
	Letter from Mr. Gareth Thomas to Mr. Alex Salmond, dated 29 September 2005
	Thank you for your letter of 29 July to the Prime Minister enclosing a postcard from your constituent about Tearfund's HIV/AIDS and Children" campaign. I am responding as the Minister who leads on the issues raised.
	It is a terrible human catastrophe and presents an unprecedented challenge to the developing world and to the eradication of poverty. The cost in terms of human life and economic burden on national governments, communities and families is enormous. Women and young people, including the rising number of orphans are particularly vulnerable.
	The Government is taking action. Last year we published Taking Action—the UK's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world", and committed at least £1.5 billion to tackling HIV and AIDS over the next three years. Of this, at least £150 million will go into supporting orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. The UK was one of the first countries to endorse UNICEF's Strategic Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Children Made Vulnerable by HIV/AIDS".
	DFID is working directly with national governments to support the development and implementation of national programmes for the support and care of children affected. In Mozambique we have given funding to help the Government properly track its programmes for orphans and vulnerable children to ensure that aid reaches the children that need it most. In Kenya we are directly supporting community based organisations to help them deliver home based care services, including to children affected by AIDS.
	We are investigating the best ways to build systems that provide support to vulnerable children and their families, possibly in the form of monthly child or family allowances. This will simplify the tracking of funds from government budgets to the poorest families. The cash received through these transfers enables families and communities to make their own decisions about the best way to improve their livelihoods and care for their children. Another important area in which we are investing is the health of children living with HIV. For example we have supported trials of a cheap and widely available drug (co-trimoxazole) which have shown that it can halve the death rate for HIV infected children in Africa. We are also supporting a new research programme to assess how to provide antiretroviral treatment for children in resource-constrained settings
	Monitoring development expenditure by category, as your campaign highlights, is an area where all of us, the international community, donor organisations and national governments can all do better. DFID has recently introduced a new system to enable us to better monitor our support for orphans and vulnerable children, Activities which will be recorded include special programmes for children made vulnerable by AIDS, cash transfers to vulnerable families, exemption from school fees and help with food.
	DFID also believes that monitoring and evaluation are crucial with regards to other financing instruments such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). DFID has funded work specifically to develop the Global Fund's capacity for monitoring and evaluation. We believe that progress is being made, but there is more to do.
	We are delighted to be co-hosting with UNICEF, later this year, the Global Partnership Forum on children affected by AIDS. We anticipate that this Forum will examine how funding can better reach community based organisations. Bottlenecks that prevent funding getting to those most in need must be identified and unlocked We see this as a crucial part of the wider efforts at Making the Money Work"—a process being led by UNAIDS to ensure greater harmonisation and co-ordination alongside the additional resources now being made available to tackle HIV and AIDS The steps we are taking are a start, but there is much still for all of us to do.
	I hope this is helpful.

Ministerial Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost to public funds would be of providing the full pension package to which they are entitled to (a) him and (b) the Lord Chancellor were they to retire today.

Tony Blair: The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

TREASURY

Business Mileage Allowance

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will uprate the business mileage allowances payable to (a) people using their own cars for business purposes and (b) company car drivers in line with fuel prices.

John Healey: The statutory tax free mileage allowance rates for people using their own cars for business purposes are intended to cover all expenses relating to the running costs of a car. They are set at a level to encourage the use of more environmentally friendly cars. The Chancellor keeps these rates under review and considers changes in the context of the Budget and pre-Budget report statements.
	Company car drivers are entitled to tax relief for the actual cost of fuel used on business mileage, but to make life easier for all, HMRC sets Advisory Fuel Rates which it will accept as, on average, reflecting fuel costs without giving rise to a tax or NICs liability. The Advisory Fuel Rates were reviewed and uprated in July 2005 to reflect the sustained increase in the price of fuel. HMRC is committed to review the rates when there is a variation by 10 per cent. from the fuel prices used at that time.

Capital Gains Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of beneficiaries of (a) taper relief and (b) exemption from capital gains accrued but unrealised at death in (i) 2004–05 and (ii) 2005–06, broken down by income decile; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of individuals liable to capital gains tax in 2003–04 (the latest year for which data are available) benefiting from taper relief is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Income decile(1) Number of individuals benefiting from taper relief 
		
		
			 No income subject to income tax 11,000 
			 Bottom decile 7,000 
			 2nd 5,000 
			 3rd 5,000 
			 4th 6,000 
			 5th 6,000 
			 6th 6,000 
			 7th 7,000 
			 8th 9,000 
			 9th 14,000 
			 Top 41,000 
			 Total 117,000 
		
	
	(1) Income deciles have been defined in terms of income subject to tax for income taxpayers only. Income is before the deduction of any allowances and reliefs.
	In addition, 10,000 trusts liable to capital gains tax in 2003–04 benefited from taper relief.
	The second part of the question concerns capital gains accrued but unrealised at death. We have estimated the number of estates passing on death where the inheritance tax payable was less than the total tax (inheritance tax and capital gains tax) that would have been payable if gains on assets had been realised before death. Our estimate is that approximately 30,000 estates a year fell or will fall into this category in 2004–05 and 2005–06. A breakdown by income decile is not available.

Cash Machines

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from members of the public about fee-charging cash machines.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury has received a number of letters from members of the public about cash machines.
	There are about 20,000 fee-charging cash machines in the UK. They are mostly found in convenience" locations like pubs and shops. Virtually all bank and building society cash machines are free. There are over 33,000 free cash machines in the UK and over 97 per cent. of withdrawals are made at such machines.
	The Government believe that cash machine charges are an important area of public policy and is continuing to monitor the situation. The Government would be concerned if those on low incomes were found to be incurring disproportionate costs as a result of cash machine charges. Research into how the financially excluded access cash and transmit money, being undertaken through the Financial Inclusion Task Force, should identify, among other things, whether this is the case.

Child Support Agency

Ian Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to improve the flow of information from HM Revenue and Customs to the Child Support Agency.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC already provides information to CSA to help them locate non-resident parents. Work is ongoing between HMRC and DWP officials as to how to further support CSA.

Departmental Estate

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) land and (b) property his Department owns in the Kettering constituency.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury owns no land or property in the Kettering constituency.

Departmental Skills Development Plan

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which individual is responsible for developing and implementing his Department's skills development plan.

John Healey: The Department's Head of HR transformation and learning has delegated responsibility for developing and implementing the Department's skills development plan.

HMRC Staff

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by HM Revenue and Customs, broken down by (a) sex and (b) ethnicity.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs employed the following numbers of staff at 1 October 2005, broken down by (a) sex and (b) ethnicity:
	
		(a) Sex
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Male 43,783 
			 Female 59,105 
			 Total 102,888 
		
	
	
		(b) Ethnicity
		
			  Headcount 
		
		
			 Asian—Bangladeshi 152 
			 Asian—Indian 1,782 
			 Asian—Pakistani 413 
			 Any other Asian background 364 
			 Black—African 397 
			 Black—Caribbean 486 
			 Any other Black background 55 
			 Any Chinese background 121 
			 Mixed Asian and White 165 
			 Mixed Black-African and White 39 
			 Mixed Black-Caribbean and White 98 
			 Any other mixed ethnic background 217 
			 Any other ethnic background 343 
			 Any White background 54,503 
			 Unknown 43,753 
			 Total 102,888

Marine Diesel Derogation

Alan Beith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to safeguard the UK derogation on the taxation of marine diesel after 31 December 2006.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to what I said on the Floor of the House on 26 May 2005, Official Report, column 865W.

North Sea Oil

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the revenue from North sea oil in financial year 2005–06; and what estimate of such revenue informed the Budget in March.

John Healey: Budget 2005 projected North sea revenues at £7.1 billion for 2005–06. The Government will publish updated forecasts for the UK public finances in the 2005 pre-Budget report as usual, taking into account all relevant factors and developments.

Olympic Lottery Game

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will apply the tax revenue from the Olympic lottery game to the funding of the Olympic games.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government intends that the same principles that apply to the existing national lottery should apply to any Olympic themed games. We have made it clear that it is not our intention to fund the 2012 games from central Government tax receipts. In its report on London's bid published on 6 June, the IOC recognised that The budgeting process is very detailed and meticulous, and assumptions are well supported and they are achievable".

Pensions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2005, Official Report, columns 51–52W, on pensions, what further information he would need to collect to enable estimates to be broken down by (a) decile and (b) taxable income band.

Ivan Lewis: To provide estimates of the cost of tax relief on contributions to approved pension funds by decile and income band, we would require better information on the income distribution of those contributing to occupational schemes.
	Most contributions to approved pension funds are into occupational schemes. As we do not have administrative data on contributions to these schemes, our estimates of the cost of income tax relief for pension contributions make use of ONS estimates of total contributions by individuals to approved occupational schemes.
	We then make broad assumptions about the income distribution of those contributing to approved occupational schemes using evidence from the Family Resources Survey. Although this approach is adequate for an approximate split between higher rate taxpayers and others, we do not consider it sufficiently robust for detailed distributional information on pension reliefs.

Petrol/Diesel (Duties Revenue)

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of how much revenue will arise from (a) fuel duty and (b) VAT from the sale of petrol and diesel for financial year 2005–06; and what estimate for these revenues informed the Budget in March.

John Healey: Fuel duty revenue projections for 2005–06 were published in the financial statement and Budget report 2005 table C8, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. These projections will be up-dated in the forthcoming pre-Budget report 2005.
	HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT revenues raised from specific goods and services. Projections of VAT revenues are based on estimates of overall expenditure.

Public Spending

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of public spending per head was in the UK in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) Government office region and (b) local authority area.

Des Browne: Public expenditure per head by NUTS1 region (equivalent to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Government office regions of England) for the years 1999–2000 to 2004–05 is shown in table 8.2 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2005 (Cm 6521). Comparable data for 1998–99 are shown in table 8.2 of PESA 2004 (Cm 6201). Equivalent data for 1997–98 are not available on a comparable basis because of changes to the definition of expenditure that can be identified as benefiting a particular region, and changes to the methodology departments follow when allocating expenditure to regions.
	Public expenditure data per head by local authority area are not available.

Tax Credits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to introduce a cap on the deduction of gross pension contributions in tax credit income assessments.

Dawn Primarolo: The income assessment for the child and working tax credits is based generally on income tax rules and for tax credit purposes, we have no plans to cap contributions to approved pension schemes.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of (a) telephones, (b) telephone calls and (c) other telephone charges relating to the tax credits helpline were in each year from 1999–2000 to 2004–05.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax credits helpline handled its first calls in 2002. Costs incurred in each financial year since 2000–01 are shown in the following table:
	(a) Telephones capital costs.
	(b) Telephone system and apparatus rental and telephone call charges. Call charges and rental charges cannot be separated.
	(c) Other telephone charges (e.g. equipment purchases, consumables, mobile phone subscriptions, recoverable VAT, operator charges, and maintenance).
	
		2000–01
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Telephone capital costs 840 
			 Telephone call/rental charges 0 
			 Telephone other charges 0 
			 Total 840 
		
	
	
		2001–02
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Telephone capital costs 0 
			 Telephone call/rental charges 0 
			 Telephone other charges 0 
			 Total 0 
		
	
	
		2002–03
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Telephone capital costs 5,250 
			 Telephone call/rental charges 1,750 
			 Telephone other charges 170 
			 Total 7,170 
		
	
	
		2003–04
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Telephone capital costs 1,330 
			 Telephone call/rental charges 3,390 
			 Telephone other charges 1,660 
			 Total 6,380 
		
	
	
		2004–05
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Telephone capital costs 330 
			 Telephone call/rental charges 2,020 
			 Telephone other charges 930 
			 Total 3,280

HOME DEPARTMENT

Community Offender Panels

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on (a) the performance of piloted community offender panels and (b) proposals for their wider implementation.

Hazel Blears: With funding from the Home Office, a pilot community offender panel has been set up in Chard in Somerset. This is a local initiative run by volunteers and overseen by a paid probation officer. Early indications suggest this joint volunteer and agency approach is working well. We await a full evaluation.
	We are also funding a number of other community justice related initiatives, including the Liverpool community justice centre and the Salford community justice initiative. We hope these initiatives will encourage criminal justice agencies to work with local authorities and voluntary and community organisations across the country to develop the community justice approach further.

Departmental Websites

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on updating the Department's website www.homeoffice.gov.uk since it was established.

Charles Clarke: The investment in maintaining the Home Office website is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2005–06 (up to 31 July 2005) 708,996.86 
			 2004–05 876,072.04 
			 2003–04 560,281.47 
			 2002–03 112,817.67 
			 2001–02 54,305.00 
			 2000–01 26,064.10 
			 1999–2000 10,735.55 
		
	
	In the last few years costs have increased as the site is being redeveloped to ensure it meets the needs of all users and is more accessible.

Departmental Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the websites that come under his Department's responsibility; what the cost was of each in the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to each site in that year.

Charles Clarke: The chart lists all sites the Home Office currently has and visits to those in the last year. We are aiming to consolidate our sites so that more information is accessible on our central sites rather than separate sites. The information on costs for all Home Office websites is not held centrally and could not be collected without disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Domain name Total page visits(2) 
		
		
			 www.apc.gov.uk 14,434 
			 www.ask-the-football-fans.gov.uk 867 
			 www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk 26,196 
			 www.bicester-centre.org.uk 3,216 
			 www.bichardinquiry.org.uk 30,372 
			 www.careers.homeoffice.gov.uk 219,945 
			 www.countingrules.homeoffice.gov.uk 3,459 
			 www.connected.gov.uk 27,675 
			 www.crimereduction.gov.uk 1,759,538 
			 www.crimestatistics.gov.uk 151,785 
			 www.drugs.gov.uk 451,131 
			 www.getgunsoffthestreets.co.uk 3,767 
			 www.good2bsecure.co.uk 16,071 
			 www.hmpenterprises.co.uk 30,655 
			 www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk 1,567,977 
			 www.holocaustmemorialday.gov.uk 159,120 
			 www.homeoffice.gov.uk 6,547,860 
			 www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds 753,480 
			 www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk 5,374,805 
			 www.policecouldyou.co.uk 2,300,560 
			 www.policereform.gov.uk 244,927 
			 www.ppo.gov.uk 24,554 
			 www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk 26,988 
			 www.russellcommission.org 18,266 
			 www.secureyourmotor.gov.uk 62,161 
			 www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk 80,416 
			 www.specialconstables.gov.uk 121,674 
			 www.surveillancecommissioners.gov.uk 14,854 
			 www.takingastand.co.uk 9,567 
			 www.technicaladvisory.co.uk 833 
			 www.thinkuknow.co.uk 205,845 
			 www.together.gov.uk 142,551 
			 www.uknationality.gov.uk 146,098 
			 www.workingintheuk.gov.uk 3,668,035 
			 www.yearofthevolunteer.org 249,915 
			 www.zahidmubarekinquiry.org.uk 32,793 
		
	
	(2) 31 August 2004 to 1 August 2005

Domestic Violence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005, Official Report, column 1781W, on domestic violence, on what frequency surveys are conducted to gauge the level of interpersonal violence suffered by (a) children and (b) adults over 60 years; and what steps are taken to ensure comparability between the results obtained in each such survey.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office currently assesses violence against children aged under 16 through the Offending, Crime and Justice Survey part of which measures victimisation of children aged 10 to 15, including assaults with and without injury. The results on victimisation from the 2003 survey have been published (see findings 246) and data will also be available from further sweeps of the survey in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
	The British Crime Survey (BCS) measures levels of violence against adults (ages 16 and over) living in private households, and as part of its core measures includes domestic violence. Risks of domestic violence are published annually by age group for men and women, including ages 45–64, 65–74 and 75 and over. The British Crime Survey is conducted on a continuous basis, having used the same essential methodology since it began in 1982 to ensure comparability over time.
	However, it is recognised that the core BCS measure of domestic violence is likely to be an underestimate as some victims may be unwilling to report experience of domestic violence to an interviewer. The special self-completion module on interpersonal violence (which measures domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking) is not asked of respondents aged 60 and over. The issue of elder abuse" in common with child abuse is better explored using dedicated surveys.

Sustainable Development

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps have been taken by his Department to review its arrangements for public reporting of its sustainable development impacts;
	(2)  what arrangements his Department has in place to report publicly on its key sustainable development impacts.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office currently reports publicly on its key sustainable development impacts through its annual report, sustainable development pages on its website and by contributing to the sustainable development in the Government annual report. In addition a separate annual sustainable development report is published for the prison estate. In line with the commitments made in the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, the Home Office will publish its own Sustainable Development Action Plan in December 2005, which will be followed by annual sustainable development reports from December 2006 onwards.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Department has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office is fully committed to the equality and diversity agenda and has policies and processes in place to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination on any grounds. The Department actively promotes the equality and diversity agenda in developing policies on its range of public responsibilities and in its treatment of its staff. The information provided for the Home Office covers the core directorates and devolved areas including the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, HM Prison Service and UK Passport Service.
	Home Office policy and processes on promoting equality and diversity
	Key examples of the range of work done by the Home Office in promoting equality and diversity since 2000 are as follows:
	Setting by Ministers and regular monitoring of race employment targets for the Home Office and its public services (i.e. police service, Prison Service, national probation service).
	Ongoing provision of Race Equality Grants funding which promote race equality community and give ethnic minority communities more access and influence on policy makers and service providers.
	Support for staff on the Cabinet Office Pathways scheme for ethnic minority staff and the Disability Bursary Scheme.
	Establishment and funding of staff networks supporting black and ethnic minority staff, disabled staff and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and transsexual members of staff.
	Annual involvement in the National Mentoring Consortium to help support undergraduate minority ethnic staff in gaining employment after graduation.
	Regular reviews of work-life balance policies and introduction of different working patterns for staff that includes part-time working, job-sharing, home-working and compressed hours schemes. Provision of child care options, including in 2005 the launch of the Childcare Voucher Scheme. In 2000–01 a mandatory Diversity Awareness Training Programme in the core Home Office took place which reached nearly 3,000 staff.
	Positive action training for women, black and minority ethnic staff and disabled staff held in 2001.
	An annual diversity week of events to promote diversity issues to Home Office staff since 2002.
	A dedicated step by step guide on race impact assessment for use by Home Office staff was launched in July 2004.
	In January 2005, the Home Secretary launched Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society: The Government's Strategy to Increase Race Equality and Community Cohesion" which sets out one strand of the Government's overall drive to improve fairness and opportunities for all in Britain.
	Publication of the review of the Home Office Race Equality Scheme in May 2005.
	In July 2004, the Home Office launched a Group-wide five Year Race and Diversity Programme as endorsed by the Department's Group Executive Board. The programme's aims are to develop a representative work force at all levels (including the Senior civil service), improve the public perception of fairness in Home Office policies, drive out prejudicial attitudes and behaviours and improve the diversity of staff. A range of projects have been introduced under its three work strands: ownership and leadership; people management; and, business management. These include:
	Publishing checklists that set out what is expected of senior leaders, line managers and staff.
	Testing for inappropriate behaviour during the 2005 senior management promotion exercises.
	Launching a new form that introduced monitoring on sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and belief for HR processes, and for the Home Office to identify, investigate and take positive action to address any disparities in the outcomes for under-represented groups in its work force.
	Launching a four level Development Plus" programme to provide positive action development for Home Office staff, targeting under-represented groups.
	Introducing a pilot mentoring scheme for staff in under-represented groups.
	Implementing a Disability Action Plan, including a review of the use Disability (Two Ticks) symbol.
	Compulsory diversity awareness training for staff at all levels in the core Home Office, Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and Prison Service during 2005.
	IND's development of its own Diversity Action Plan Towards 2010' as an integrated strategy on diversity across IND leadership, staff management and business delivery areas.
	Prison Service's ongoing work on developing a range of leaflets setting out the responsibilities and rights of staff and prisoners under equal opportunities legislation.
	Financial expenditure on promoting equality and diversity
	The following table sets out the Department's estimated annual expenditure (where available) on promoting the equality and diversity agenda between 2000–05.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 (3)1.1 
			 2001–02 18–3 
			 2002–03 17–8 
			 2003–04 18.5 
			 2004–05 15–9 
			 Total 71.6 
		
	
	(3) 2000–01—The figure excludes figures for Prison Service which are not available.
	The rise in expenditure during the period 2000 to 2002 represents an increase in the Department's overall commitment to diversity initiatives and also takes account of new directorates which received funding to promote diversity and equality.

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what training is obligatory for members of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Specialist Investigation Service;
	(2)  whether all members of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Specialist Investigation Service are trained in appropriate interviewing techniques.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	This is essentially a matter for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). Training requirements for staff are subject to in house" arrangements at the NSPCC and would not fall under the jurisdiction of the DfES. However, there is an expectation that the NSPCC, along with other organisations involved in child protection would follow Government guidance such as Working Together To Safeguard Children" (1999) and Complex Child Abuse Investigations: Inter-Agency Issues" (2002). Local authorities purchasing work from the NSPCC would also need to quality assure that work.

Police

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the fitness for purpose review of police forces in England and Wales, the existing revenue and capital balances of each police authority will be ring-fenced to be spent in the current areas of operation in cases where police forces are amalgamated.

Hazel Blears: Forces and police authorities have been asked to respond to the challenges set out in Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary's review of force structures. Shortlists of options for restructuring were submitted at the end of October and are currently under consideration. Firm proposals for restructuring in each area will be submitted to the Home Secretary by the end of December 2005. We shall also consider what accountability mechanisms will need to be in place in a restructured service, including financial issues.

Police

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the amount of time spent by police officers on the beat.

Hazel Blears: Assigning police officers to foot/car/beat patrol and the duties they undertake is ultimately a matter for chief constables. My Department does work with the police service to reduce the bureaucratic burden and we are making good progress by, for example, cutting nearly 9,000 unnecessary forms; civilianising posts; rolling out the penalty notice for disorder scheme; and ensuring forces have the best scientific and technological support—like video identity parades, electronic fingerprinting and the online Violent and Sex Offender's Register—so that our police spend more time actually in communities, tackling crime and antisocial behaviour and reassuring the public. The Frontline Policing Measure shows that in 2004–05 Thames Valley police officers spent an average of 69.3 per cent. of their time on frontline duties compared with the national average of 64.1 per cent.

Police

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are suspended for (a) less than three months, (b) more than six months, (c) more than 12 months and (d) more than 24 months, broken down by rank, in each police force in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally.

Police

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what relative importance will be given to (a) respect for regional boundaries and (b) local identity in reaching decisions on re-organised police force areas.

Hazel Blears: We consider co-terminosity with regional boundaries and local identity as very important features. To support the development of proposals for restructuring, a toolkit and guidance has been sent to all police authorities and police forces to assist them with an evaluation of options. The guidance, which includes a weighting for each of the design criteria for force restructuring (including co-terminosity with regional boundaries and identity), is available on the police reform website at http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/police-reform/.

Police

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what local consultations he plans to conduct in Worcestershire on the reorganisation of police forces.

Hazel Blears: I understand both West Mercia Police Authority and the West Mercia chief constable plan to conduct wide ranging consultations within the police force area prior to submitting their proposals for restructuring in December.

Recruitment Agencies

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences were issued to recruitment agencies in the UK to employ immigrant workers in 200405.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	On 1 May 2004, the Government set up the Workers Registration Scheme (WRS) to regulate access of nationals of the new member states (except Cyprus and Malta) to the labour market and to restrict access to benefits.
	The Government are committed to publish data from the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) on a quarterly basis. The latest quarterly statistics for the period 1 May 2004 to 30 June 2005 were published on 23 August 2005. The next monitoring report will be published at the end of November 2005.
	The report states that in total, there were 232,000 applicants to the WRS between 1 May 2004 and 30 June 2005 of whom up to 30 per cent. may have already been in the UK before 1 May 2004. 220,000 of these applicants were issued with Worker Registration certificates and cards.
	A copy of the report is available on the IND website:
	http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/0/reports/accession_monitoring.html
	Most non-EEA nationals coming to the UK for skilled employment require a work permit. Work permits can be issued in any sector, as long as the relevant requirements are met. They are issued for the duration of the post on offer, up to a maximum of five years.
	The employer applies to Work Permits (UK) for the work permit on behalf of the migrant. They must show that all the relevant criteria are met. This includes that a genuine vacancy exists which requires the relevant level of skills and that the employer cannot recruit an EEA worker for the role. Work permits can be issued for vacancies in any sector but are not issued to employment agencies.
	Since 1995, employment agencies operating in Great Britain no longer require a licence in order to trade. The previous licensing arrangements required by the Employment Agencies Act 1973 were found not to provide an effective control and were repealed in 1995. Only a small percentage of new applicants or licence renewals were rejected and EAS inspectors found breaches of the legislation among those with licences. When the previous licensing arrangements were repealed they were replaced by new powers, which allow the DTI's Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate to apply to an employment tribunal to prohibit unsuitable persons from running employment agencies and employment businesses, for periods of up to 10 years. In addition, the EAS Inspectorate can prosecute an agency in a magistrates court, where the court can impose a maximum fine of 5,000 for each offence.

Religious Hatred

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition he uses of religious hatred.

Paul Goggins: For the purposes of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill currently before Parliament religious hatred means hatred against a group of persons defined by religious belief or lack of religious belief.
	This definition does not seek to define what amounts to a religion or religious belief. It will be for the courts to determine whether a religion or belief falls within this definition.

DEFENCE

Aircraft

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft of each type were (a) withdrawn from active service and (b) mothballed in each of the last three years.

Adam Ingram: The numbers of aircraft withdrawn from active service, or placed in storage are listed in the following tables. The figures in the first table include aircraft lost as a result of accidents and operational incidents. The table also includes commercially owned military registered (COMR) aircraft.
	'Mothballed has been taken to mean aircraft placed in storage. As part of normal fleet management, aircraft will be rotated through storage to replace aircraft undergoing repair, maintenance or upgrade programmes.
	In compiling the answer it has come to light that aircraft were unintentionally omitted from the table in the previous answer I gave on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2125W. These are the Harrier GR7 and Tornado GR4 both in 200405 and are now included in the following table.
	
		Aircraft withdrawn from service
		
			 Aircraft type 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Sea Harrier 8 9 8 
			 Harrier T8 1   
			 Harrier GR7   1 
			 Harrier T10  1 1 
			 Jaguar GR1 A 2  3 
			 Jaguar T2A 1  3 
			 Canberra T Mk4   2 
			 Tornado GR1 18   
			 Tornado GR4 2  1 
			 Tornado F3 2 2 8 
			 Hercules C-130K   1 
			 BAe 146 1   
			 Hawk  1  
			 Jetstream Mkl   11 
			 Tucano   1 
			 Sea King HAS Mk6 2  1 
			 Puma HC Mkl   1 
			 Gazelle AH Mkl 4 8 5 
			 Lynx HAS Mk3  1 1 
			 Lynx HMA Mk8 1   
			 Lynx AH Mk7  1 1 
			 Merlin HMA Mkl  1  
			 Single Squirrel (COMR)   1 
		
	
	
		Aircraft placed in storage
		
			 Aircraft type 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Harrier T10  1  
			 Tornado GR4  8  
			 Hawk  4  
			 Jetstream Mk3  1  
			 Tucano 2 2 9 
			 Apache AH Mkl 16 11  
			 Sea King HAS Mk6 2 6  
			 Gazelle AH Mkl 2 8 11 
			 Lynx HMA Mk8  1 1 
			 Lynx AH Mk7 1   
			 Lynx AH Mk 9   1 
			 Merlin HMA Mkl 4

Army Board

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the Army Board has requested that the Attorney General review specific military cases since 1997, in relation to cases in which all proceedings are complete.

Don Touhig: On one occasion since 1997.

AWE Aldermaston

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the recently announced additional 1 billion to be spent on maintenance of the Trident nuclear warhead at Aldermaston is (a) new money and (b) a first payment of the 25-year contract for 5.3 billion already allocated for this purpose to AWEML.

John Reid: The l billion to be spent at AWE, which I announced on 19 July this year, is in addition to the 5.3 billion which was announced in 2003 when the original contract was extended to 2025.

Central Asia

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) training programmes and (b) visits have been undertaken by UK military forces in (i) Uzbekistan, (ii) Tajikistan, (iii) Kyrgyzstan and (iv) Turkmenistan.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom has modest defence programmes with the nations of central Asia. Ministry of Defence engagement in the region began in 2001 and aims to support efforts to reform defence management and to raise professional standards in the armed forces. We also seek to encourage greater regional co-operation.
	Training programmes in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan are outlined as follows.
	UzbekistanThe MOD's directorate of standardisation held a seminar on NATO standards in June 2003, following advisory visits by the MOD directorate of management consultancy services in February and September 2003, a personnel management advisory team (PMAT) provided training in military human resource management in November 2003 and April 2004. A peacekeeping exercise, TIMUR EXPRESS, took place in September 2004, preceded by two planning visits. The UK contingent was a Territorial Army infantry company. The Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency ran a mapping course in October 2004. In November 2004, the junior staff officer course ran a partnership for peace seminar. Following a briefing by the commander of the British military advisory and training team (BMATT) on the training BMATT could provide, and reconnaissance visits, non-commission officer (NCO) training took place in October-November 2002, October-November 2003, June-July 2004, September 2004 and February-March 2005. Following the events in Andijan on 13 May, the UK withdrew from direct military co-operation with Uzbekistan.
	TajikistanBMATT provided NCO training in May 2005. The joint arms control implementation group conducted arms control and counter-proliferation training in June 2005.
	KyrgyzstanThe joint doctrine and concepts centre conducted a seminar on peace support operations in Bishkek in May 2004. BMATT provided NCO training in October 2004. A PMAT ran a military human resources seminar in November 2004.
	TurkmenistanThe UK has not undertaken any military training in Turkmenistan.
	The following visits have taken place.
	UzbekistanIn June 2002,102 logistics brigade undertook a reconnaissance of Uzbek facilities that might be used in support of operations in Afghanistan. The Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency made a liaison visit in September 2003. The joint arms control implementation group conducted a Vienna document evaluation (confidence and security building measures) in January 2004.
	The chief of the general staff visited Uzbekistan in May 2004 and staff from the joint services command and staff college visited the Uzbek Defence Academy in November 2004.
	TajikistanThe chief of the general staff visited Tajikistan in May 2004.
	KyrgyzstanThe Royal Marines, together with BMATT, have scoped the requirement for assistance to Kyrgyzstan with border security and undertook a reconnaissance visit in May 2003. The courses have yet to take place.
	TurkmenistanThere have been no visits.

Departmental Spending

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on items of art in 200405.

Don Touhig: The sum of 232,000, excluding VAT, was spent on works of art, as part of the Ministry of Defence Main Building Redevelopment programme during 200405.

Estate Disposals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 20 October 2005, Official Report, column 1212W, on estate disposals, what assessment has been made in relation to the possible presence of (a) asbestos and (b) other toxic substances on each of the named sites; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The information requested will need to be obtained from a number of separate sources and will take a little time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Future Carrier Programme

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he first considered the possibility of co-operating with France in the future carrier programme; and what was the origin of this proposal.

Adam Ingram: As both the UK and France are embarking on major, complex carrier procurement projects, it is natural that areas of mutual benefit and opportunities to deliver economies are being examined. This began in the summer of 2000.

Information Infrastructure Project

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms have been put in place to monitor the performance of EDS in the Defence Information Infrastructure project; and what discussions have been held with (a) HM Revenue and Customs, (b) the Department for Work and Pensions and (c) the Passport Office on the company's performance on contracts undertaken for them.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) contract has a rigorous performance regime in place to manage the Delivery Partner (in which EDS is the Prime Contractor). The Delivery Partner's overall progress and performance will be monitored on a weekly basis against a range of Key Performance Indicators, and actual service delivery measured against targets and used as the basis for payment.
	Prior to contract award, the MOD discussed the past performance of both Bidders with a range of Government Departments and other organisations, including the HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions. In addition, Learning from Experience sessions and consultations were conducted with a wide range of organisations on best practice methods in the management of large IT contracts; this included the Passport Office.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters have been privately contracted for use by UK forces in Multinational Division South East, Iraq; what the cost is; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: The MOD does not contract any private or civil helicopters for use in Iraq.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of armed forces personnel who have served in Iraq were (a) Welsh, (b) Scottish and (c) English.

Don Touhig: Information on the countries of birth of all the service personnel who have served in Iraq is not held centrally.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees in his Department requested training to improve their (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills in each year since 2002.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence does not collect this information. Literacy and numeracy training is provided to some personnel as part of wider training and educational programmes, such as apprenticeship schemes. In addition, the Department provides networks of tutors and advisers that can offer direct support or refer personnel to appropriate provision elsewhere, either internal or external. Significant Basic Skills training is directed rather than voluntary so the number requesting training would only give a partial picture in the context of the MOD's broader approach.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of new recruits to his Department do not have a level 2 qualification in English and mathematics.

Don Touhig: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Logistics Vehicles

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many logistic vehicles are owned by his Department; and how many have additional armoured protection for the cabs and underside.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 25 October 2005
	The Ministry of Defence owns 15,556 logistic vehicles ranging from four, eight and 14 ton trucks to the dismountable rack and off-load pick up system (DROPS). Of these, only those deployed on certain tasks within operational theatres would require additional protection. This protection is provided according to the nature of the tasks.
	To date, a requirement for 146 sets of ballistic protection consisting of a mixture of armoured seat, ballistic side panels, ballistic floor covering and anti-shatter film for windows has been met for the operational fleet and a further 74 sets are on order.
	Within the logistic fleet, only one vehicle, the close support wheeled tanker, has been designed to take bespoke fitted armoured protection. Currently six sets of underside and cab ballistic protection are fitted or are being fitted, and a further 17 sets are on order.

Nuclear Weapons

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to undertake studies to assess the levels of public (a) support for and (b) opposition to the continued possession of nuclear weapons by the United Kingdom as long as other countries have them.

John Reid: The Ministry of Defence periodically monitors public opinion on a range of defence issues, including attitudes towards the nuclear deterrent. This specific question was last asked in a poll conducted by MORI in December 2003, and the results are published in detail on the MOD website (www.mod.uk/linked_files/publications/foi/polls/mori.pdfwww.mod.uk).
	Overall, some 66 per cent. agreed that the UK should retain nuclear weapons while other countries retain theirs, with 21 per cent. disagreeing.
	We will continue to monitor public attitudes towards defence, although it is too early to say what specific questions might be asked in future.

Ordnance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where (a) boxer caps, (b) initiators and (c) other manufactured components have been supplied from during the interruption of supply from Chorley Royal Ordnance.

Adam Ingram: During the interruption of supply from BAE Systems Land Systems Chorley, 5.56 mm boxer caps have been sourced from Arm Tek (USA) and 7.62 mm boxer caps have been sourced from RUAG (Switzerland). Initiators have been supplied using existing stockpiles of material at Chorley. No other manufactured components have been supplied.

Ordnance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests and quality checks have been conducted on the new supplies of (a) initiators and (b) boxer caps; and when these tests were carried out.

Adam Ingram: All types of initiators supplied to the MOD are subject to a validation and qualification programme agreed between the MOD and BAE Systems Land Systems.
	Boxer caps manufactured by Arm Tek (USA) and RUAG (Switzerland) successfully completed qualification tests two months ago.

Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which series of vehicles will be replaced by the Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle.

Adam Ingram: The Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle will provide a total of 401 vehicles. They are planned to replace CVR(T) Spartan, Truck Utility Medium (Landrover), Saxon, FV432 and FV436 vehicles operating in command and liaison roles rather than the complete series of any vehicle.

Territorial Army

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) soldiers, (b) airmen, (c) seamen and (d) Territorial Army soldiers have left the armed forces within 12 months of deployment to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Deployment data are not held centrally in databases of individual records and it is therefore not possible to provide a link to the Record of Service showing who has left the armed forces.

Territorial Army

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army personnel are deployed overseas, broken down by country; and how many are available for deployment.

Don Touhig: As at 28 October 2005, there are approximately 775 Territorial Army (TA) personnel deployed overseas; of this figure some 695 are in Iraq, 35 are in the Balkans and 45 are in Afghanistan. The latest figures available, dating from 1 September 2005, show some 12,000 members of the TA are available to be deployed.
	The figure of 12,000 is reached by the exclusion of (among others) personnel who:
	have not completed their mandatory training and/or are in the process of being discharged (approximately 11,500 personnel);
	are currently mobilised and deployed and/those who would, if re-mobilised, exceed the statutory limits on mobilised service (section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 limits mobilisation to a total of 12 months in every 36) (approximately 8,100 personnel); and
	are members of the University Officer Training Corps (approximately 4,000 personnel).

Warships

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the cost of the (a) Swan Hunter-built vessels and (b) BAE Systems-built vessels which form part of the Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) project.

Adam Ingram: pursuant to the reply, 2 November 2005, Official Report, c.1073W
	The current contract values for the costs associated with the build of the Swan Hunter vessels is 236 million and 176 million for the BAE Systems vessels. In addition the Swan Hunter contract includes 62 million for the provision of Lead Yard Equipment and Services in support of the construction of the two BAE Systems ships, and 11 million for initial spares provisioning for all four ships. Both companies have indicated likely cost increases to their programmes, and as these are subject to commercial discussions between the Ministry of Defence and the companies, I am unable to give further details at this time.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 375W, on departmental websites, what the cost was of each website in the last year for which figures are available; and how many visits there were to each.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The cost and visit numbers for the two centrally managed websites is as follows:
	odpm.gov.uk costs 228,000 per annum, with an average 433,541 visits per month
	info41ocal.gov.uk costs 240,834 per annum, with an average 19,837 visits per month
	The information on the other websites is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The previous answer of 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 375W, on departmental websites should have included the following site: erdf.odpm.gov.uk (European Regional Development Fund)

Disabled Facilities Grant System

Gregory Barker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding has been made available for the disabled facilities grant system (a) as a whole and (b) in each region in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 31 October 2005
	Although the DFG is available in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is only responsible for the operation of the system in England. There is a different scheme in Scotland.
	Government funding in support of local authorities in England for disabled facilities grant since 1997 has been (in 1,000) as follows:
	
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200405 200506 
		
		
			 England totals 56,000 59,000 64,849 71,800 84,800 88,000 101,157 103,300 
			  
			 Regional totals
			 North-east 2,718 2,837 3,090 3,388 3,958 3,841 4,365 4,802 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 4,900 5,166 5,728 6,424 7,712 8,830 10,707 10,493 
			 East Midlands 4,138 4,461 4,953 5,548 6,638 6,156 6,325 6,899 
			 East of England 5,992 6,442 7,143 7,938 8,974 9,318 9,978 9,778 
			 London 9,157 9,475 10,516 11,770 14,024 13,754 15,282 14,976 
			 South-east 8,717 9,050 9,936 10,996 13,268 14,305 17,211 17,070 
			 South-west 5,608 5,995 6,641 7,418 8,826 8,170 8,387 9,226 
			 West Midlands 6,035 6,185 6,725 7,454 8,778 9,196 11,542 12,696 
			 North-west 8,739 9,389 10,117 10,864 12,622 14,430 17,360 17,360

Fire Service

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what timetable he has set for the establishment of regional fire control rooms; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The eight new control centres outside London are expected to be rolled out over 200809, with the first wave comprising the centres in the South-west, North-east and East Midlands. Provision has been made for London to join the project at the end of the rollout order, in time for the Olympic Games in 2012. A detailed timetable will be published after the technology/infrastructure services procurement is complete, which is expected to be in spring 2006.

High Hedges

Mary Creagh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what average fee is charged by local authorities to people seeking redress under the Government's new high hedges legislation.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 31 October 2005
	This information is not collected centrally. However, Hedgeline have published on their website some information on the fees being charged by local authorities for dealing with complaints under the high hedges legislation, and these appear to range from 0650.

Property (Cash Incentives)

John Baron: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether conditions can be placed on the geographical location of a property bought with the aid of financial assistance provided through a cash incentives scheme;
	(2)  what measures are in place to ensure that persons who receive financial assistance to buy a property through a cash incentives scheme are not subsequently provided with social housing;
	(3)  how many people have received financial assistance to buy a property in Basildon district through a cash incentives scheme, broken down by local authority of origin.

Yvette Cooper: Any local authority that chooses to introduce a cash incentive scheme may set conditions on it. These could include geographical conditions, although they would need to comply with wider legislation.
	Awards of grant are made only for the purchase of houses or flats and only where the recipient is able to afford the cost of maintaining ownership. The issuing authority would require evidence of both before approving any award. However receipt of grant under a cash incentive scheme would not in itself exclude the recipient from being offered social housing should they apply for it at some later date.
	Records of grants paid out under such schemes are kept by the issuing authorities; none is held centrally. I am not therefore able to provide any information regarding properties purchased with such grants in Basildon.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Equal Opportunities

Sarah Teather: To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what equal opportunities strategy the House has in place.

Nick Harvey: The House of Commons Service's commitment to equal opportunities is set out at the beginning of the Staff Handbook:
	The House of Commons Service recognises and values the diversity of its staff and is committed to developing working practices which allow every member of staff to contribute his or her best, regardless of race, sex, marital status, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or any other irrelevant factor.
	The handbook, which also contains detailed policies and procedures to underpin this policy, is available on the Parliamentary intranet.
	A five-year diversity strategy and action plan is currently being prepared by the Diversity Forum, a House-wide group of staff which promotes diversity initiatives across the House service.

House Employees

Sarah Teather: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2005, Official Report, column 553W, on House employees, if he will break the figures down by pay bracket.

Nick Harvey: The figures broken down by pay bands are as follows:
	
		Gender
		
			 Pay band/pay group Male Female 
		
		
			 SCS 59 19 
			 A 130 83 
			 B 156 167 
			 C 167 190 
			 D 128 138 
			 E 15 49 
			 Craft 71  
			 Catering 153 99 
			 Casual 42 32 
			 Total 921 777 
		
	
	
		Ethnicity
		
			 Pay band/ pay group White Asian Chinese Black Mixed Other 
		
		
			 SCS 77 1 
			 A 204 1 1 3  4 
			 B 278 16  11 2 7 
			 C 298 25 1 13  1 
			 D 197 17 1 25 5 6 
			 E 25 4 1 27  4 
			 Craft 54 2  6  3 
			 Catering 129 17 4 76  9 
			 Casuals 61 8  5   
			 Total 1,323 91 8 166 7 34 
		
	
	The overall totals for the two tables are different because (a) some staff have not responded to the ethnicity survey and (b) the ethnicity survey over a period of time includes some seconded-in staff or staff on career breaks not included in the gender breakdown.

Parliamentary Communications Directorate

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how long on average the Director of the Parliamentary Communications Directorate took to respond to telephone queries from hon. Members in the last period for which figures are available; and how many telephone queries are awaiting a response.

Nick Harvey: No records are held relating to this. There are no calls awaiting responses at present.

Serjeant at Arms Residence (Cleaning)

David Taylor: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the expenditure on cleaning the Serjeant at Arms's official residence was in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: Only window cleaning is carried out at the Serjeant at Arms's official residence as part of the contract to clean the 1 Parliament Street/Derby Gate block. The annual cost to the House is estimated to be in the region of 540 per year.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

0870 Numbers

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the occasions in the last five years on which 0870 telephone numbers have been used by her Department as contact numbers for members of the public; and how much revenue was received from the use of 0870 contact numbers in each of the last five years for which records are available.

David Lammy: My Department has not used any 0870 telephone numbers in the last five years.

Departmental Property (Kettering)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) land and (b) property her Department owns in Kettering constituency.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport owns neither land nor property in Kettering.

Library Lending

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) videos, (b) DVDs and (c) CDs were lent by libraries in (i) Brent and (ii) London in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: This information is not held centrally. However, the table shows the number of loans of sound recordings (encompassing music and talking books) and Videos and DVDs for Brent and for Greater London (including Brent) for the period 199798 to 200304.
	
		
			  Brent Greater London 
			  Sound recordings Videos/DVDs Sound recordings Videos/DVDs 
		
		
			 199798 (4)36,001 106,900 (5)2,218,323 2,061,357 
			 199899 38,587 116,720 4,376,961 2,218,239 
			 19992000 50,862 108,685 4,228,280 2,267,107 
			 200001 59,584 128,432 4,721,739 2,336,212 
			 200102 55,590 145,155 4,562,316 2,447,554 
			 200203 50,983 190,838 4,666,873 2,773,160 
			 200304 50,934 174,273 4,085,128 2,740,266 
		
	
	(4) Music recordings only, no separate talking books figure for Brent for this year.
	(5) Music recordings only for parity.
	Source:
	Public Library Statistics (Actuals) Published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

London Olympics

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2005, Official Report, column 715W, on London Olympics, when the procurement strategy will be published.

Richard Caborn: Following the publication of the Procurement Principles, which recognise the need to maximise the potential to improve the environment in East London and minimise adverse environmental impact of the Games and legacy development, the Olympic Delivery Authority plans to publish its draft procurement strategy in December.

Scottish Olympic Team

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on a possible separate Scottish Olympic team.

Richard Caborn: I have received one written parliamentary question tabled by the hon. Member on 28 October.

Scottish Olympic Team

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if her Department will support the creation of a Scottish Olympic team if it is clear that this is what Scottish people want.

Richard Caborn: Recognition of National Olympic Committees is purely a matter for the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
	Under the current IOC charter, the IOC recognises the British Olympic Association as the Olympic Committee for the UK. Given Scotland's constitutional status in relation to the rest of the UK, it is highly unlikely that the IOC would consider a separate Scottish team.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with other countries on the risks of avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: I have had discussions with ministerial counterparts on a regular basis since the H5N1 strain of the virus emerged in South East Asia four years ago. My officials attended a series of meetings in Brussels last week, organised by the European Commission, to discuss issues on avian influenza (AI).
	The Commission convened two extraordinary meetings of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) to discuss the latest situation on avian influenza. The Standing Committee endorsed, unanimously, the reinforced safeguard measures proposed by the European Commission to reduce the risk of introducing avian influenza into the UK.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the two parrot samples obtained from dead birds at the quarantine facility in Essex were referred to in her Department's press release 471/05 as pooled and not examined separately.

Ben Bradshaw: Standard operating procedures in VLA laboratories permit the pooling of samples from birds in quarantine facilities.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is common practice for field officers from her Department to pool samples taken for the determination of H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Ben Bradshaw: Determination of presence of H5N1 avian influenza virus is carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. Officers of the VLA work to standard operating procedures which permit the pooling of samples from birds.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether breaches of quarantine rules have been observed by her officers at the quarantine facility in Essex referred to in her Department's press release 471/05.

Ben Bradshaw: The extent to which quarantine requirements have been complied with is being investigated by the local authority who are responsible under the relevant legislation for any enforcement action that may be appropriate if the legal requirements have been breached.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether field tests are available for the detection of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in birds.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no commercially available field tests officially approved in the UK which are available for detection of H5N1 avian influenza in birds.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on confirming the working hypothesis on the origin of the H5N1 virus recovered from bird samples taken at the quarantine facility in Essex.

Ben Bradshaw: Work is still in hand to analyse the samples taken from birds which had died or been slaughtered in the quarantine facility in Essex. The virus isolated so far has been placed in the same group as those which caused outbreaks of disease in ducks and geese in China in 2003.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has for isolating premises on which poultry infected with H5N1 avian influenza virus are identified.

Ben Bradshaw: The Diseases of Poultry (England) Order 2003 outlines the restrictions that are put in place in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza.
	If a poultry keeper suspects avian influenza, he must immediately notify the divisional veterinary manager and stop any movements on or off the premises which might spread disease.
	The notification will be investigated by an Officer of the State Veterinary Service who will confirm those restrictions in writing. If disease is confirmed, the premises will be cleansed and disinfected before any poultry are allowed onto them again.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued on the minimum safe distance to be maintained between premises on which poultry infected by the H5N1 avian influenza virus are identified and premises where uninfected birds may continue to be kept.

Ben Bradshaw: If a premises is infected with H5N1 avian influenza virus, all premises within the standard protection zone described in the Diseases of Poultry (England) Order 2003 will be surveyed by officers of the State Veterinary Service, regardless of their distance from the infected premises. Poultry in the infected premises will be culled.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued on the cleaning and disinfection measures that must be taken in poultry houses from which birds suffering from H5N1 avian influenza are removed.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department undertakes preliminary cleansing and disinfection on any premises where poultry are killed for disease control purposes. This is a spray down with an approved disinfectant to reduce airborne virus load. The occupier is responsible for secondary cleansing and disinfection which is to remove all trace of the virus and to avoid re-occurrence of disease when birds are re-introduced. The disinfection is carried out under the supervision of the department who must also be satisfied it has been effectively completed before allowing restocking to occur. Guidance on the responsibilities of the occupier is provided at the time of the cull and includes advice on suitable methods of cleansing, Health and Safety implications and minimising impact on the environment. This guidance is on the DEFRA website.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements have been made for the disposal of poultry carcases infected with H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Ben Bradshaw: Disposal of carcases of birds infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza would be by off-site incineration or rendering in specialist plants. If existing incineration and rendering capacity were fully utilised, carcases would be disposed of by deep burial in suitably engineered commercial licensed landfills.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has received from the Taiwan Government on her Department's working hypothesis on the origins of the H5N1 avian influenza virus identified in a quarantine site in Essex.

Ben Bradshaw: We have received representations from the Taiwan Government, both directly and through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	Defra officials are meeting with representatives of the Taiwan Government on 3 November 2005 to discuss the working hypothesis on the origins of the H5N1 virus identified in the UK.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the merits of seeking to develop a poultry vaccine for the current epidemic strains of H5N1.

Ben Bradshaw: Several animal health companies have already developed and produced poultry vaccines which claim protection against the H5N1 strain.
	There are no authorised vaccines in the UK for avian influenza H5N1 strain.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there is licensed drug or other treatment available for prophylactic on poultry to (a) reduce susceptibility to infection by H5N1 avian influenza virus and (b) reduce virus shed in the event of an infection episode.

Ben Bradshaw: At present there are no such products, including vaccines, authorised in the UK either to protect against susceptibility to avian influenza H5N1 strain infection, or to reduce virus shedding in the event of infection.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the typical period is between the receipt of a sample by the veterinary laboratory and the determination of a (a) negative and (b) positive result for the avian influenza virus H5N1.

Ben Bradshaw: The typical period between the receipt of a sample by the veterinary laboratory and the determination of a negative result is seven days and a positive result is up to three days, in both cases in respect of avian influenza virus H5N1.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the capacity of competent laboratories to cope with demands that may arise from measures being taken to prevent H5N1 avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) is an Executive agency of Defra. As the European Community and National Reference Laboratory for avian influenza, the VLA is playing a major role in both the national and international surveillance for the H5N1 virus in wildlife and domestic poultry. The VLA has contingency plans to deal with outbreaks of avian influenza in a variety of different scenarios. These plans include measures to provide the necessary surge capacity which might be required in the event of a severe outbreak of disease.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many laboratories in England are capable of carrying out the full range of tests needed to identify the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Ben Bradshaw: Only one laboratory in England is authorised to carry out the full range of tests which lead to the official confirmation of the presence of avian influenza H5N1 virus. This is the Veterinary Laboratories Agency at Weybridge, Surrey, which is both the National Reference Laboratory and the EU Community Reference Laboratory for avian influenza virus.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the H5N1 isolates recovered from bird samples taken at the quarantine facility in Essex were tested for clade type.

Ben Bradshaw: The avian influenza virus H5N1 recovered from the quarantine facility was subjected to analysis of the nucleotide sequencing of the haemagglutinin gene. This allowed the virus to be placed in a clade.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the epidemiological characteristics of different clades of influenza virus H5N1.

Ben Bradshaw: Scientists working at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, which acts as the National Reference Laboratory and Community Reference Laboratory for avian influenza, have constructed a map which shows the phylogenetic relationship between different clade of avian influenza virus H5N1.
	Information has also been received from the Office International des Epizooties (The World Animal Health Organisation) about the nature and key features of the disease in countries where birds or animals have been exposed to the virus.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the distribution of different clades of the avian influenza virus H5N1.

Ben Bradshaw: Scientists at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, which acts as the National Reference Laboratory and Community Reference Laboratory for avian influenza, have constructed a chart which shows the phylogenetic relationship between the different clades of the avian influenza virus H5N1.
	This chart includes the location at which the virus was first isolated.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reasons underlay her Department's working hypothesis on the origin of the H5N1 virus recovered from bird samples taken at the quarantine facility in Essex.

Ben Bradshaw: The isolate of avian influenza H5N1 was from pooled samples taken from two birds which had died at the quarantine facility in Essex. The virus was subject to initial identification and subsequent analysis of its nucleotide sequence of the haemagglutinin gene which showed that it fell within a distinct group of similar viruses isolated in China from ducks and poultry during 200305.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many clades have been identified in respect of avian influenza type H5N1

Ben Bradshaw: Between 15 and 20 clades of H5N1 avian influenza virus have been identified since typing work began. The H5N1 viruses which have caused disease in poultry and humans since 2004 lie within a distinct sub-grouping formed by two clades.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the veterinary laboratory agency identifies the clade typing of H5N1 isolates recovered from samples submitted to it for testing for the virus.

Ben Bradshaw: It is confirmed that the Veterinary Laboratories Agency carries outas a matter of standard practiceanalysis of the nucleotide sequence of the haemagglutinin gene which allows a judgment to be made about within which clade H5N1 virus isolates may be placed.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the H5N1 avian influenza designation applies to a group of viruses with distinct epidemiological characteristics.

Ben Bradshaw: The H5N1 virus is one of the A series of influenza viruses (the other series are B and C). The H5N1 avian influenza virus is categorised as a notifiable avian influenza virus (as are all Al viruses which are H5 or H7). The epidemiological characteristics of any H5 virus depend on to what degree they have become adapted to cause overt disease in the animal which they infect. The most recent outbreaks of H5N1 (particularly in Asia) have been categorised as being caused by a highly pathogenic strain (HPAI) of H5N1, causing high levels of mortality in domestic poultry.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what screening is being undertaken to identify the distribution types and prevalence of (a) avian influenza viruses and (b) their antibodies in commercial poultry flocks.

Ben Bradshaw: There is an annual survey which aims to detect the prevalence of infections with avian influenza subtypes H5 and H7 in different species of poultry. Since 2003 this survey has taken place in all EC member states between September and January.
	Poultry premises are selected at random and most meet certain eligibility criteria (including a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza viruses).
	Samples are taken from six categories of poultry; turkey, domestic fowl, ducks, geese, quail and ratites (ostriches). These blood samples are tested for the presence of antibodies to avian influenza of subtypes H5 and H7.
	If antibodies are found and the birds are still alive (some samples are taken at the point of slaughter) further samples are taken and subject to laboratory tests to identify and type any avian influenza viruses.

Avian Influenza

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to increase the speed of operation of veterinary laboratories in testing samples for avian influenza virus H5N1.

Ben Bradshaw: There are a number of distinct steps in the overall process in testing samples with a view to identifying whether avian influenza viruses of any type are present. These include growth on eggs, injection into a group of 48 week old chickens, and genetic sequencing techniques. This is a largely linear process, which limits the opportunities for decreasing the overall testing speed. Nevertheless, discussions have been held with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to investigate possibilities for minimising any significant delays.

Avian Influenza

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government has been able to establish whether the H5N1 strain of bird influenza which killed two parrots in UK quarantine came from Taiwan.

Ben Bradshaw: The samples which were obtained from two birds in quarantine from which H5N1 virus was isolated were pooled tissue samples of certain organs taken from the two birds. It is not possible at present to confirm the exact origin of the virus, but clade typing has shown that the virus belongs to a sub-group of virus that caused disease in ducks and geese in China during 200305.

Bird Trade

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species-listed birds were traded into the UK in each year since 2000.

Jim Knight: The number of CITES-listed birds imported into the UK is given in the table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 11,120 
			 2001 32,228 
			 2002 86,738 
			 2003 88,375 
			 2004 18,897 
		
	
	The number of birds so far recorded as imported in 2005 (to date) is 4,534.

Bird Trade

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has received on the number of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species-listed birds traded into the EU (a) in 2000, (b) in 2001, (c) in 2002, (d) in 2003, (e) in 2004 and (f) to date in 2005.

Jim Knight: The numbers of CITES listed birds imported into the EU is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 1,787,244 
			 2001 1,130,273 
			 2002 835,613 
			 2003 1,184,939 
			 2004 694,382 
		
	
	The figures take account of all CITES-listed birds imported into the EU, including birds imported by countries which have become EU member states since 2000 (the figures also include those imported into the UK).
	To date figures are not available for 2005.

Canals (Swindon)

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of regeneration of waterways on surrounding areas and communities; and if she will make a statement on plans to restore Swindon's canals.

Jim Knight: Our policy paper on the inland waterways, Waterways for Tomorrow recognises the evidence produced by many reports and studies that the improvement, development and restoration of inland waterways acts as an effective catalyst for economic and social regeneration of both urban and rural areas. I understand that the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal Trust is currently seeking funding for the restoration of the Wiltshire and Berkshire and the North Wiltshire Canals, both of which formerly passed through Swindon. The trust will wish to demonstrate the benefits that restoration of these canals will bring to Swindon and other places on their routes in terms of recreation, local amenity, tourism, and environmental enhancement.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on farmers and their land of the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: It is too early to make an accurate assessment of the impact of the new right of access under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 but monitoring procedures have been put in place. The Countryside Agency will carry out an initial four-year monitoring programme measuring both the impacts and the outputs of the new right across a range of key areas.
	One of the key areas of open access monitoring will look specifically at those who own and manage access land, through a land manager survey.
	The survey will be carried out across a sample of land owners and managers across all mapping areas in order to track awareness and understanding of the CROW Act. Importantly, the survey will also address land owners' and managers' experience of the new right of access and will track both attitudes and perceptions of how the Act is working on the ground.
	Our preliminary view is that measures, guidance and funding are in place to ensure that generally access will not have a significant impact on farmers.
	Where land is subject to the new right, the CROW Act strikes a careful balance between delivering more and better access, and respecting other interests in the countryside. The new right is subject to restrictions to take account of legitimate interests, including the need to ensure effective management of land and livestock. Landowners and agricultural tenants have the discretion to exclude or restrict the new right for up to 28-days each year, for any reason. They may also apply for restrictions or closures where necessary for land management, safety or fire prevention purposes. In addition, we have established a national access management grant scheme to help local authorities, land managers and communities manage open access in their areas proactively. Funding is available for a rapid response service to help access authorities respond quicklywithin 72 hoursto unforeseen on-site management issues raised by land managers.
	Overall, we hope the new right of access will provide opportunities for land managers to diversify their farming practices to take advantage of new visitors and to promote their local produce to a new market.
	Part II of the CROW Act makes a statutory obligation for local authorities to produce rights of way improvement plans. A key aspect of both developing and implementing the plans is to work with landowners and other partners to identify and agree new routes that will improve the network and provide opportunities for diversification of farming activities e.g. horse riding and recreational cycling. The majority of the other provisions in Part II of the Act are aimed at better delivery of existing goals for the rights of way network under current legislation and place few new burdens on farmers.
	In respect of Part III of the Act concerning sites of special scientific interest, the regulatory impact assessment prepared at the time the Bill was introduced to Parliament considered the likely effects of the proposals on owners and occupiers of SSSIs, of which farmers are one group. No further assessment of the impact of the SSSI provisions in the Act has been made. However the entire SSSI regime as enhanced by the CROW Act provisions has been challenged and found to be compatible with the human rights of owners and occupiers of SSSIs by the court of first instance and the Court of Appeal.
	We do not think any of the other provisions of the CROW Act will have a significant impact on farmers.

Dangerous Dogs Act

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to review the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Ben Bradshaw: None.

Flood Protection

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions have taken place between the Environment Agency and British Waterways on the inclusion of the Gloucester Sharpness Canal at Frampton-on-Severn as a flood-protection device; and where responsibility falls to compel British Waterways to undertake flood protection work.

Elliot Morley: Defra has overall policy responsibility for flood risk management in England and provides funding to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities, in this case the Environment Agency. The works programme to manage risk is driven by the operating authorities; Defra does not build defences, nor direct the authorities on what specific works to undertake.
	Powers to undertake flood defence works are established in the Land Drainage Act 1991 and Water Resources Act 1991. These powers are permissive. Neither Act confers a responsibility on either Defra or the Agency to compel British Waterways to undertake flood protection work.
	I understand that the embankment of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal protects the residents of Frampton-on-Severn against flooding from the Severn Estuary. The Environment Agency considers the condition of the embankment to be of a sufficient standard to provide the requisite protection. Maintenance will be required over time and the agency and British Waterways have agreed to work together to ensure this is done. As a last resort, the agency would have the legal powers to carry out necessary maintenance work itself to ensure continued protection against flooding from the estuary but it is highly unlikely these powers will be required.

Flood Protection

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role the Environment Agency has in assessing the flood risk of planning applications.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency are responsible for providing planning authorities with advice on the environmental impacts, including flood risk, of new developments. In order to strengthen the influence of the Agency, the Government will shortly consult on revised guidance to planning authorities on how they should take account of current and future flood risk in making planning decisions. This will include a proposal that the EA become statutory consultees on certain categories of planning applications.

Flood Protection

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers the Environment Agency has to prevent development projects going ahead which could increase the risk of flooding to households.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency are responsible for providing planning authorities with advice on the environmental impacts, including flood risk, of new developments.
	In order to strengthen the influence of the Agency, the Government will shortly consult on revised guidance to planning authorities on how they should take account of current and future flood risk in making planning decisions. Among other things this consultation exercise will propose that EA become statutory consultees for certain categories of planning applications, and that a power be established for the call-in of applications where EA have objected to a planning application on flood risk grounds and have been unable to resolve their objections with the planning authority.

Habitats Directive

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government are considering changes to the interpretation of the Habitats Directive.

Jim Knight: The Government are not considering any changes to the interpretation of the Habitats Directive. However, following ECJ Judgement C-6/04, my officials are considering whether it is necessary to clarify transposition of the Directive.

Horse Passports

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horse passports have been issued by each of the issuing bodies.

Jim Knight: The following table lists the most recent figures that English Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) have submitted to Defra. Defra collects Horse Passport Statistics only from English PIOs. Those organisations based in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland pass details of the number of passports issued to their respective Devolved Administrations.
	
		
			 Names of passport issuing organisations Passports issued 
		
		
			 American Miniature Horse Club 57 
			 American Saddlebred Association of GB 406 
			 American Quarter Horse AssociationUK 1,492 
			 A3Appaloosa Horse Club UK Ltd. 1,020 
			 Anglo European Studbook 12,725 
			 Arab Horse Society 21,743 
			 British Appaloosa Society 1,150 
			 British Association Purebred Spanish Horse Ltd. 894 
			 British Camargue Horse Society 31 
			 British Connemara Pony Society 3,257 
			 British Driving Society 19,497 
			 British Equestrian Federation 4,117 
			 British Falabella Studbook 56 
			 British Hanoverian Horse Society 1,125 
			 British Harness Racing Club 710 
			 British Horse Society 26,178 
			 British Miniature Horse Society 1,470 
			 British Morgan Horse Society 138 
			 British Percheron Horse Society 1,334 
			 British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) 5,345 
			 British Skewbald and Piebald Association 3,602 
			 British Spotted Pony Society 1,497 
			 British Warm-Blood Society and British Sports Horse Registry23,409 
			 Caspian Breed Society UK 217 
			 Caspian Horse Society 211 
			 Cleveland Bay Horse Society 3,738 
			 Coloured Horse and Pony Society (UK) 8,309 
			 Dales Pony Society 1,574 
			 Dartmoor Pony Society 6,219 
			 Donkey Breed Society 12,000 
			 EquiCours/Selle Francais 254 
			 Exmoor Pony Society 1,863 
			 Farmkey 17,973 
			 Fell Pony Society 1,110 
			 Friesian Horse Association of GB and Ireland Ltd. 0 
			 Gypsy Cob Society 904 
			 Hackney Horse Society 848 
			 Haflinger Society 662 
			 Horse Passport Agency 110,000 
			 Horse Passports Ltd. 3,912 
			 Hurlingham Polo Association 6,820 
			 Icelandic Horse Society of GB 484 
			 Irish Draught Horse Society GB 14,749 
			 Lipizzaner Society of GB 154 
			 Miniature Mediterranean Donkey Association of UK 366 
			 National Pony Society 10,016 
			 New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society 12,726 
			 Pet ID UK Ltd. 60,735 
			 Pleasure Horse Society 39,000 
			 Shire Horse Society 2,810 
			 Sport Horse Breeding of (GB) 21,178 
			 Sports Pony Studbook Society 517 
			 Spotted Horse and Pony Society 3,413 
			 Spotted Pony Breed Society GB 906 
			 Suffolk Horse Society 387 
			 Trakehner Breeders Fraternity 1,200 
			 United Saddlebred Association UK Ltd. 466 
			 Weatherbys ID 49,949 
			 Weatherbys Thoroughbred 132,675 
			 Total 659,598

Non-departmental Public Bodies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department have a statutory base; which (a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and whether it is under a statutory requirement in each case.

Jim Knight: Not all the information required is held centrally and the following parts of this question have not been answered because of the disproportionate cost:
	(a) publish their advice to Government
	(c) lay an annual report before Parliament;
	and whether it is under a statutory requirement in each case.
	Some of part b can be answered, however there is currently no information held centrally on whether these bodies have a statutory base or whether it is a statutory requirement to publish an annual report.
	Most of the information was collected in the last quarter of 2004 and relates only to a question about publishing annual reports on the internet.
	(b) Publish an annual report
	Advisory Committee on Consumer Products and the Environment
	Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances
	Advisory Committee on Organic Standards
	Advisory Committee on Packaging
	Advisory Committee on Pesticides
	Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
	Committee on Products and Processes for Use in Public Water Supply
	Committee of Radioactive Waste Management
	Darwin Advisory Committee
	Farm Animal Welfare Council
	Independent Scientific Group on TB in Cattle
	Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council
	Integrated Administration and Control System Appeals Panel
	Pesticides Residues Committee
	Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
	Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Council
	Sustainable Development Commission
	Veterinary Products Committee
	Veterinary Residues Committee
	Zoos Forum
	Sustainable Development Commission
	Veterinary Products Committee
	Veterinary Residues Committee
	Zoos Forum

Roads (Lancashire)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the Environment Agency and (b) Lancashire county council on the environmental implications of the proposed Northern bypass.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA Ministers have not discussed this road with either the Environment Agency or Lancashire county council. I understand it is the subject of a major scheme proposal for funding from the Department for Transport. The Environment Agency and other statutory agencies have been asked to comment on it and on a number of other proposals by the Department for Transport.

Snared Animals

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions she has issued a licence for the snaring of (a) animals listed under section 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and (b) other animals in each of the last five years, broken down by species.

Jim Knight: The Department has not issued any licenses for snaring of any animal listed under Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1 981 or any other animals in the last five years.

TRANSPORT

A2

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of congestion on the A2.

Stephen Ladyman: Congestion on the A2, up to the junction with the A2018, where Transport for London takes responsibility, is monitored using a number of methods, such as traffic counts, individual surveys and cameras.
	Specifically on the A2 and M2 route, the volume of traffic is measured continuously on an hourly basis at 71 sites. Quarterly and annual reports are produced to show traffic flows and average speed.
	Following this assessment of congestion, the A2 is currently being improved between the M25 and the M2 to dual four lanes including reconstruction of the junction of the A2/M25. The last section of this work, between Pepperhill and Cobham, has recently been approved to go ahead. This scheme will greatly reduce existing congestion whilst providing improved access to the key regeneration area of Kent Thameside.

British Transport Police

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his written statement of 11 October 2005, Official Report, column 27WS, on British Transport Police review, if he will include within the scope of his review an examination of the case for transferring the responsibilities and resources for policing transport in London to the Metropolitan Police.

Derek Twigg: The terms of reference for the Review of the British Transport Police (BTP) were placed in the House Library on 20 October. The aim of the review is to examine the functions of the BTP and whether some or all of these are best carried out by a national force, regional forces or, indeed, by the industry itself.
	The review is being conducted in parallel with the review of the 43 local police forces being undertaken by the Home Secretary who has invited forces to come forward with firm proposals for the creation of strategic forces in each region by December 2005.
	The BTP review will take into account the emerging outcomes of the Home Secretary's review and consider whether other forces, including the Metropolitan Police, would be best placed to carry out any railway policing functions.

Call Centres

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many call centres were run by his Department and its agencies in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506 to date; and how many and what proportion of calls (i) were handled by an adviser, (ii) were received but abandoned and (iii) received an engaged tone in each year.

Karen Buck: The Department and its agencies ran a total of five call centres in the years 200304 to date. Detailed information is as follows:
	DSA
	The DSA has two call centres. Detailed information for the number of calls is as follows.
	
		Theory test booking centre
		
			  200304  200405  200506 (to date) 
		
		
			 (i) Calls handled by an adviser (Number) 1,654,170 1 ,807,074 747,118 
			 Percentage of total calls 91 87 98 
			 (ii) Calls received but abandoned (Number) 51,233 219,758 16,227 
			 Percentage of total calls 3 11 2 
			 (iii) Calls that received an engaged tone (Number) 108,856 41,716 0 
			 Percentage of total calls 6 2  
		
	
	
		Practical test booking centre
		
			  200304 200405 200506 (to date) 
		
		
			 (i) Calls handled by an adviser (Number) 5,031,011 4,551,441 2,220,054 
			 Percentage of total calls 99.8 72 67.6 
			 (ii) Calls received but abandoned (Number) 10,056 14,423 9,771 
			 Percentage of total calls 0.2 0.3 0.3 
			 (iii) Calls that received an engaged tone (Number) Not available Not available 262,036 
			 Percentage of total calls Not available Not available 8 
			 Calls handled by ASR(6) Not available 1,723,654 791,035 
			 Percentage of total calls Not available 27.7 24.1 
		
	
	(6) In June 2004 an Advanced Speech Recognition (ASR) System was introduced which allows callers to transact without the need to speak with an adviser.
	Note:
	The number of abandoned calls is calculated only if the caller abandons the call after 20 seconds. Any calls abandoned before this do not count as it is one of DSA's service targets to answer calls within 20 seconds.
	DVLA
	The information for the DVLA Call Centre, Swansea, is as follows:
	
		
			  200304 200405 200506 (to end September) 
		
		
			 (i) Calls handled by an adviser (Number) 9,000,998 8,792,497 4,954,986 
			 Percentage of total calls 64.35 55.91 46.45 
			 (ii) Calls received but abandoned (Number) 109,901 71,974 77,777 
			 Percentage of total calls 0.78 0.45 0.72 
			 (iii) Calls that received an engaged tone (Number) Not available 501,338 1 ,308,696 
			 Percentage of total calls Not available 4.38 11.49 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The BT statistics needed to report on the proportion of calls that received an engaged tone are only available from August 2004.
	2. The 200506 (to end of September) figures reflect very high demand in June and July as a consequence of a publicity campaign.
	Highways Agency
	The Highways Agency has a single call centre. The number of calls received in 200304, 200405 and 200506 to date is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of calls 
		
		
			 200304 65,687 
			 200405 75,079 
			 200506 (To date) 38,000 
		
	
	The current telephone system used by the Highways Agency information Line does not have the functionality to run automatic reports giving amount of calls (i) received but abandoned, and (ii) received an engaged tone.
	A replacement telephone system, due to be installed January/February 2006, will provide enhanced reporting on call waiting times, abandoned calls and performance of advisers.
	VOSA
	The Vehicle and Operator Service Agency (VOSA) has one call centre. The numbers of calls for 200304 to the end of September 2005 are as follows:
	
		
			  200304 200405 200506 (to end September) 
		
		
			 Calls received by VOSA Enquiry Unit (Number) 281,419 466,834 274,080 
			 (i) Calls handled by an adviser (Number) 269,049 424,740 220,992 
			 Percentage of total calls 97 91 81 
			 (ii) Calls received but abandoned (statistics only available from September 2003) (Number) 12,370 42,094 53,096 
			 Percentage of total calls 4.5 9 19 
			 (iii) Calls that received an engaged tone Not measured Not measured Not measured 
		
	
	Note:
	The high level of abandoned calls in 200506 was related to a sudden increase in volume following the implementation of the E' test booking system in September 2005.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total quantity of carbon dioxide released by (a) overground and (b) underground trains in (i) 1984, (ii) 1994 and (ii) 2004.

Derek Twigg: The table provides estimates of all carbon dioxide emissions from the rail sector for 1984, 1994 and 2003. Figures for 2004 are not yet available. It is not possible to disaggregate these data to provide separate estimates of overground and underground train emissions.
	The estimates include direct carbon dioxide emissions from diesel trains and indirect emissions from all other sources and operations connected with the rail sector. Indirect emissions include emissions from the production of electricity allocated to the heavy and light rail sectors including London Underground and non-traction use of electricity for rail lighting, signalling, stations and offices.
	
		
			  Total direct and indirect CO 2   emissions from rail activity (million tonnes of CO 2 ) 
		
		
			 1984 5.2 
			 1994 6.5 
			 2003 5.3 
		
	
	Source:
	DEFRA

Channel Tunnel

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed safety dossier for Europorte 2 supporting Eurotunnel's safety case has been found satisfactory by the channel tunnel safety authority.

Derek Twigg: I understand that the channel tunnel safety authority has completed its examination of the Europorte 2 safety dossier and has written to the channel tunnel intergovernmental commission advising the terms on which the commission should accept that dossier.

Channel Tunnel

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects Eurotunnel to re-submit information on site and work plans supplementary to documents submitted in April 2004 by Eurotunnel to the intergovernmental commission regarding the procedure for the review of plans and submissions by Union Railways (South) Limited and arrangements for commissioning of the channel tunnel rail link interfaces with Eurotunnel.

Derek Twigg: The channel tunnel safety authority (CTSA) advised the intergovernmental commission on 24 May 2004 that the information provided by Eurotunnel regarding the commissioning of the channel tunnel rail link interface with Eurotunnel was satisfactory. However, the intergovernmental commission requested some supplementary detail for its records. Most of this has been provided. It is expected that the outstanding informationwhich is not held by Eurotunnelwill be provided shortly.

Channel Tunnel

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether safety requirements on heavy goods vehicle shuttles are still met under proposals by Eurotunnel to reduce by one the minimum crew in the amenity coach.

Derek Twigg: These proposals have been reviewed on behalf of the two Governments by the channel tunnel safety authority, which considered the proposals acceptable, subject to a number of conditions being met relating to the training of staff and the evacuation procedures in an emergency.

Congestion Charge (Disabled Drivers)

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to exempt disabled drivers from congestion charging.

Karen Buck: Local authority congestion charging schemes may make provision for exemptions for disabled drivers. The Government will consider with interested parties the need for nationally defined exemptions.

Correspondence

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve the Department's performance in replying to correspondence from (a) the general public and (b) hon. Members.

Karen Buck: The Department for Transport and its agencies make every effort to handle all correspondence effectively and efficiently and have targets of between 10 and 20 working days for replying to letters from members of the public. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 27 October 2005, Official Report, columns 50203W in response to his question about dealing with hon. Members correspondence.

Crossrail

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of Crossrail on the aggregate depots in West London; and what estimate he has made of transfers of aggregates from rail to road.

Derek Twigg: It is expected that there will be no permanent loss of capability of aggregate depots as a result of Crossrail. During Crossrail construction, depot capability is expected to be maintained in all but one case. Overall the impact on aggregate depots is not expected to cause a transfer from rail to road.

Heathrow (Platform Facilities)

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the capacity of platform facilities at Heathrow airport to accommodate both Crossrail and Airtrack services.

Derek Twigg: On Second Reading of the Crossrail Bill, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport described the ongoing discussions between the Government and BAA about access to Heathrow for Crossrail. The current intention is that Crossrail will serve terminals 14 and will therefore not affect the development of services to terminal 5 such as the Airtrack scheme. We will continue to discuss these matters with BAA as the Airtrack proposals progress.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on in-house training on (a) literacy and (b) numeracy (i) in total and (ii) per head in each year since 2002.

Karen Buck: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has run an in-house literacy course since February 2005. The costs for that were 620 in total and 124 per head. The Department has not delivered any other in-house training on literacy and numeracy.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees in his Department requested training to improve their (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills in each year since 2002.

Karen Buck: Five staff have requested and attended an in-house literacy course run by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency during 2005, none have requested numeracy courses. During 2002, 2003 and 2004 no staff requested such training, nor have there been any requests from other areas of the Department during 2005.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to promote uptake of the national tests in adult literacy and numeracy among employees of his Department.

Karen Buck: The Department encourages its staff to improve their skills, as part of that the central Department's intranet has a page which provides individuals with information on the national tests, assessment centres and some literacy and numeracy courses.

Railways

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will order a full investigation into the reliability of the service of the Great Western franchise in advance of re-tendering being completed, with specific reference to the performance of (a) First Great Western and (b) Network Rail.

Derek Twigg: I have already met First Great Western (FGW) and Network Rail to assess performance. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and FGW to address performance trends and these are monitored monthly.

Railways

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement of the health and safety implications of recent rail incidents.

Derek Twigg: The Health and Safety Executive's HM Railway Inspectorate has responsibility for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 on Britain's railways. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch, which became operational on 17 October, conducts no blame investigations into accidents and makes recommendations to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Railways

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the reliability of the rail service between (a) Paddington and Reading, (b) Paddington and Swindon, (c) Paddington and Gloucester and (d) Paddington and Cheltenham; and how many delays have occurred on each route in the last 12 months due to (i) planned and (ii) unplanned maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport does not keep records on the number of delays due to planned or unplanned maintenance. However, I recently met First Great Western and Network Rail to discuss performance, and I understand that joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and First Great Western (FGW) to address performance trends. These are monitored monthly.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans there are to upgrade infrastructure along the Hastings to London Victoria line; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans there are to upgrade the infrastructure at Bexhill-on-Sea train station; and how much funding it has received in each year since 1997;
	(3)  what plans there are to upgrade the infrastructure at (a) Crowhurst, (b) Battle, (c) Robertsbridge and (d) Etchingham train stations in East Sussex; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Investment at individual stations is a matter for Network Rail. However, the London to Hastings routes have benefited from significant investment through the Southern Region new trains programme and the associated power upgrade. This has seen the elimination of the slam door trains previously used on this part of the network and their replacement by modern, air conditioned trains on all services.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will encourage train operating companies to undertake public consultations for rail users affected by train timetabling changes on the Hastings to London Victoria and Hastings to Charing Cross lines.

Derek Twigg: Under the terms of each franchise agreement train operating companies are required to consult on significant changes with all relevant local authorities and either the Rail Passengers Council or London TravelWatch.

Railways

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of service will be specified in the new contract for the Great Western franchise between (a) Herefordshire and (b) Worcestershire and London Paddington; and what rolling stock will be used to provide this service.

Derek Twigg: Herefordshire and Worcestershire will retain at least the same level of service as they have today. The current proposal for the new contract is to enhance the service with two additional round trips to the Cotswolds.
	The rolling stock for these services will be specified by the bidders for the franchise.

Railways

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to public funds of support to the railway industry was in the last year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: 4,688 million of public funds were spent on rail in 200304. A detailed breakdown of that spend is set out in table 4d of the Department's annual report which was published on 20 June 2005.

Railways

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total kilometres travelled by passengers on the railways in (a) 1984, (b) 1994 and (c) 2004.

Derek Twigg: The total kilometres travelled by passengers on the railways in Great Britain were: (a) 35 billion in 1984; (b) 35 billion in 1994; and (c) 51 billion in 2004.

Railways

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether plans have been agreed to update Thameslink St. Pancras station with pedestrian links to the new Eurostar terminal; and whether finance has been made available.

Derek Twigg: The timing and funding arrangements for the fit-out of Thameslink St. Pancras station are currently under consideration. Once the station is operational there will be direct pedestrian access to it from within the new Eurostar terminal via stairs, escalators and lifts.

Railways

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many qualified train drivers there are.

Derek Twigg: As at 17 September 2005 there were 10,993 operational franchised train operating company passenger train drivers.

Road Safety

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on road traffic calming measures.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department's Traffic Calming Bibliography, Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/05 published in January this year, lists the main items of published advice and research into the design, use and effectiveness of traffic calming measures. Copies of this leaflet have been placed in the House Library.
	In addition, a Local Transport Note on traffic calming is being drafted. This will summarise existing information on the design and effectiveness of traffic calming measures. The Department plans to publish this Local Transport Note early next year.

Road Safety

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to record the nationality of all drivers involved in road traffic accidents in England.

Stephen Ladyman: Information about personal injury road accidents in Great Britain is collected by the police. There are no plans to establish the nationality of every driver involved. However, from 1 January 2005, the information collected about each vehicle involved in such an accident includes whether it is a foreign registered vehicle, and whether it is left or right hand drive. Results will become available in the summer of 2006.

School Crossing Patrols

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of levels of pay for school crossing patrols on recruitment.

Stephen Ladyman: Local authorities are responsible for the provision and recruitment of school crossing patrols (SCPs).
	National pay scales exist for SCPs: most authorities pay NJC (National Joint Council) Scale, Spinal Column Point 5 (pro-rata)equivalent to 7.1311 per hour.

Speed Cameras

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was raised in fines as a result of detection by (a) mobile and (b) fixed speed cameras in each year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department's information on fines following offences detected by safety cameras relates to the totals for safety camera partnerships, and not to camera types. The following table shows income available for netting-off in England and Wales for each year for which figures are available since the inception of the programme.
	
		
			  Fine revenue () 
		
		
			 200001 9,871,920 
			 200102 18,799,820 
			 200203 73,876,260 
			 200304 113,567,780

Traffic Commissioners

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the rule that the traffic commissioners do not accept representations made on behalf of constituents by elected representatives.

Stephen Ladyman: I have no plans to review the categories of persons who may object to, or make representations against, the issue of a goods vehicle operator's licence by a traffic commissioner. These persons include county, district and unitary authorities and individuals who own or occupy land in the vicinity of a proposed operating centre for goods vehicles. The existing arrangements provide adequate opportunity for persons who may be affected by the issuing of a licence to have their views considered.

Traffic Lights

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued to local authorities on the timing of the pedestrian phase of traffic lights; what monitoring takes place to ensure that such guidance is adhered to; and if he will take action to prevent the length of the pedestrian phase of traffic light sequences being set so high as to cause unnecessary traffic congestion.

Karen Buck: The Department has issued guidance in Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/05, Pedestrian Facilities at Signal-Controlled Junctions. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Tackling congestion through effective management of a local authority's road network is a statutory duty under Part 2 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. Within this context, authorities are responsible for determining traffic light timings, taking account of local traffic conditions. Traffic light timings are not monitored centrally.

WALES

Departmental Skills Development Plan

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's skills development plan.
	(2)  which individual in responsible for developing and implementing his Department's skills development plan.

Nick Ainger: The Wales Office has fewer than 500 staff and is not required to produce a skills development plan.
	Skills needs are assessed as part of each member of staff's personal development plan against the requirements of their post and their wider development needs.

Health Services

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2005, Official Report, column 252W on health services, whether he discusses the delivery of health services in Wales in Cabinet as the voice of Wales.

Peter Hain: Yes, when the health service is an agenda item and even when it is not; I may also on occasions have discussions with the Secretary for Health, if there is a specific issue I need to raise with her. Two examples being the NHS Redress Bill and the Health Bill, both of which include powers for Wales.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of his Department.

Peter Hain: Skills needs are assessed as part of each member of staffs personal development plan against the requirements of their post and their wider development needs.
	If a requirement for training in literacy or numeracy were identified, training would be offered internally, on the job or through an external organisation as appropriate.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on in-house training on (a) literacy and (b) numeracy (i) in total and (ii) per head in each year since 2002.

Nick Ainger: The Wales Office has not sent any staff on specific literacy or numeracy training courses, so has incurred no direct costs.
	However, it does encourage staff to attend training courses and on-the-job training relevant to their posts and identified in their performance development plans. Such training can include elements of literacy and numeracy training but it is not possible to quantify this directly.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees in his Department requested training to improve their (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills in each year since 2002.

Nick Ainger: No Wales Office staff have requested specific training in either literacy or numeracy since 2002.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to promote uptake of the national tests in adult literacy and numeracy amongst employees in his Department.

Nick Ainger: The Wales Office is a small Department which recruits most of its staff from other Government Departments and the National Assembly for Wales. Literacy and numeracy are tested as appropriate during the recruitment process.
	Individual staff training requirements are assessed as part of the performance management process. If national tests in literacy or numeracy were identified for staff members, they would be encouraged to sit the tests.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of new recruits to his Department do not have a level 2 qualification in English and mathematics.

Nick Ainger: Most staff recruited to the Wales Office are existing civil servants and as such have already had their basic skills assessed.
	The Wales Office does not collect information on staff qualifications. Recruitment to the Wales Office is based on competence and hence there may not be a specific requirement for staff to have particular qualifications.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what methods of assessment of (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills are used as part of the recruitment process by employees of his Department.

Nick Ainger: Most staff recruited to the Wales Office are existing civil servants and as such have already had their basic skills assessed.
	During recruitment to the Wales Office, literacy is tested through the completion of the application form and performance at interview. Numeracy skills are not usually tested separately.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Angola

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the holding of a donor conference to assist reconstruction in Angola.

Hilary Benn: The international community has consistently maintained that, in order for a donor conference to be successful, Angola would first need a poverty reduction strategy (PRS) and a formal programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While a PRS has been in place since January 2003, an IMF programme has not yet been agreed.
	As three and a half years have passed since the end of the civil war, a traditional pledging conference for Angola's reconstruction needs may no longer be appropriate. Recent statements from the Angolan Government suggest a partners' conference as a possible way forward. We are considering this.

Asian Earthquake

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many helicopters the Government (a) has sent and (b) intends to send to areas affected by the earthquake in Asia.

Gareth Thomas: At the request of DFID, the RAF has provided three CH-47 Chinook Helicopters which have been operational since 28 October. This is in addition to the four helicopters DFID is funding through the United Nations and Red Cross Movement.
	At the end of last week, the UN estimated there were a total of 81 helicopters in operation and another 44 due to arrive in the area, but the number of helicopters flying on any one day can vary with weather conditions and maintenance.

Bangladesh

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the Char livelihood project in Bangladesh.

Gareth Thomas: DFID Bangladesh regularly assesses the Char livelihood project, which included four field visits over the past six months. The head of DFID Bangladesh and the British high commissioner visited just over a week ago.
	After a slow start up phase, in the four months leading up to the monsoon season starting in June:
	581 Homes were raised as part of the flood protection programme, benefiting 2,389 people directly and 3,835 indirectly.
	The community benefited from the income generated by the creation of 44,663 days of paid employment.
	This financial year DFID Bangladesh estimates that 2.5 million will be invested directly into activities to enhance the livelihoods of the poor of the Char area.
	DFID Bangladesh will continue to closely assess the project to ensure that momentum is maintained and, the rate of implementation increases. DFID Bangladesh plans an independent review of progress early in 2006.

Cayman Islands

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the UK's (a) technical and (b) financial assistance to the Cayman Islands in each year since 1999.

Gareth Thomas: The UK's direct support for the Cayman Islands is set out in the table. In addition, the Cayman Islands also benefit from regional initiatives, its share of which cannot be specifically attributed.
	
		000
		
			  Technical Financial 
		
		
			 19992000(7) 49  
			 200001 137  
			 200102 222  
			 200203 61  
			 200304 34  
			 200405 41 (8)200 
		
	
	(7) DFID expenditure. FCO figures not available for this year.
	(8) Emergency assistance following Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. Precise figure is not available as expenditure is attributed to wider Hurricane Ivan assistance which also included Grenada, Jamaica and Cuba.

Chronic Poverty

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work his Department is doing on social transfers and chronic poverty.

Hilary Benn: DFID recognises that social transfers could have an important role to play in reducing chronic poverty in very poor countries. DFID has recently published a paper entitled: Social transfers and chronic poverty: emerging evidence and the challenge ahead. The paper describes how social transfers have helped tackle poverty in many better off developing countries and suggests that they may have a similar impact in very poor countries. It recognises that there are significant challenges to implementing social transfer programmes in countries with weak institutional capacity but suggests that these are not insurmountable.
	DFID is working with a number of governments in very poor countries to develop a better understanding of the potential role that social transfers could play in tackling chronic poverty. A number of specific social transfer programmes are already under design or are being implemented. DFID has committed 70 million over three years to support a safety net programme for five million chronically poor people in Ethiopia that provides both work programmes and social transfers. We are also supporting social transfer pilot programmes in Zambia and Kenya and our Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction programme in Bangladesh provides social transfers to very poor women.
	DFID is committed to continuing to collect evidence on the effectiveness of social transfers. For example, the department will provide further funding of up to 7.5 million over five years to the Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC), a research consortium with members in the UK, Africa and South Asia. A key element of CPRC's work will be to examine further how social protection, including social transfers, can help tackle chronic poverty.
	Chronic poverty, of course, needs to be tackled by a range of policy responses, not just social transfers. For example, DFID is working to strengthen health and education services for the chronically poor, as well as increasing their opportunities to participate in economic growth and be more included within national political processes.

Commission for Africa

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what follow-up there has been to the Commission for Africa; and which recommendations have been implemented.

Hilary Benn: Many of the Commission for Africa's recommendations have been picked up in the commitments made by the G8 at Gleneagles and by the UN at the Millennium Review Summit. The UK Government have regular meetings at ministerial level to monitor implementation. At the international level, the Africa Partnership Forum will be tracking delivery on the basis of a Joint Action Plan now being prepared, which will bring together the commitments of Africa and its development partners for the first time.
	Important progress has already been made on many of the Commission's recommendations. For example:
	G8 and EU countries have made commitments that will result in an additional US$25 billion in aid for Africa by 2010. 15 EU member states have set at deadline of 2015 to reach the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of national income provided as aid. The US$4 billion International Financing Facility for Immunisation was launched in September, with support from the UK, France, Sweden and Italy, which could save five million lives by 2015.
	The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank's shareholders have agreed to provide 100 per cent. debt cancellation for eligible Highly Indebted Poor Countries, worth US$55 billion and Nigeria the single largest debt cancellation for an African country (worth US$30 billion).
	Specific targets and a monitoring process have been agreed to improve the effectiveness of aid on the basis of the Paris Declaration.
	The UN has agreed the principle of Responsibility to Protect, along with the establishment of the Peace Building Commission and the Human Rights Council. The Central Emergency Revolving Fund has been strengthened to enable funding to be targeted to the places in most need; six countries including the UK have committed US$150 million between them.
	African Ministers have agreed a five-year Consolidated Plan of Action for Science and Technology; we are now discussing funding options.
	US$3.7 billion has been pledged for the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for 200607. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AID (UNAIDS) has started work on a plan to deliver on the G8 and UN commitment to as close as possible, to universal access to AIDS treatment by 2010. The Commission for Africa recommended further investment in health related research, and the UK recently announced funding of 2 million a year over the next five years, for research into anti-malarial drugs via the Medicines for Malaria Venture.
	The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa has been launched (on 6 October) to overcome obstacles in the sector and to help identify finance for programmes identified as priorities by Africa.
	On trade, there has been increased international support for the aid for trade initiative endorsed at Gleneagles, including commitments by the EU to increase their support for trade related capacity building. We continue to press for further progress with this and other trade-related areas in the run up to Hong Kong.

Departmental Consultation

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list formal consultations being sponsored by his Department and its agencies; and what the (a) commencement date and (b) deadline for responses is in each case.

Hilary Benn: DFID is currently carrying out the following formal consultations:
	Draft plans for support to China by the UK's Department for International Development
	Commencement date: August 2005.
	Deadlines for responses: 31 October 2005.
	UK consultation on advance market commitments for vaccines
	Commencement date: October 2005.
	Deadlines for responses: 30 December 2005.

Departmental Energy Policy

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much energy has been consumed by his Department in each of the last five years; and how much was spent on energy in each year.

Gareth Thomas: The energy consumption/costs for the DFID UK estate over the last five years have been as follows:
	
		
			  Consumption (kWh) Cost () 
		
		
			 200001 (9)8,310,124 (9)272,878 
			 200102 (9)8,310,124 (9)272,878 
			 200203 8,310,124 272,818 
			 200304 11,136,145 347,567 
			 200405 10,948,525 388,723 
		
	
	(9) DFID has a baseline year of 200203 as the London office moved to a completely new refurbished building at the end of 2001 and work began to refurbish the East Kilbride office. Data prior to 2002 is incomparable to current data. The increase in consumption in 200304 is due to the East Kilbride refurbishment.
	The recent refurbishments of our UK offices have given us the opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings; for instance, DFID has installed Building Management Systems that allow us to monitor and manage energy usage to a much greater extent than in the past.
	DFID has also installed energy efficient heating systems and also lighting systems which are movement sensitive and take account of natural lighting levels. An Environment Management System has been implemented at both UK offices. The design for the refurbishment of our East Kilbride office has received an excellent and the London office a very good rating under the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM).
	Information on energy costs at our overseas offices is not centrally available and could not be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost. Through our green awareness programme we are encouraging overseas offices to consider the implementation of similar energy efficiency measures wherever possible.

Departmental Energy Policy

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department will sign up to the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management programme.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is committed to meeting the Energy White paper target for central Government estates of reducing absolute carbon from fuel and energy efficiency used in buildings in their estate by 12.5 per cent. by 201011, relative to 19992000.
	The recent refurbishments of our UK offices has given us the opportunity to improve significantly the energy efficiency of our buildings. For instance, DFID has installed Building Management Systems which allow us to monitor and manage energy usage to a much greater extent than in the past. DFID has also installed energy efficient heating systems and also lighting systems that are movement sensitive and take account of natural lighting levels. An Environment Management System (EMS) has been implemented at both main UK offices and we are currently looking at the feasibility of a wind turbine and a combined heat and power plant at the East Kilbride office. The design for refurbishing the East Kilbride office earned an Excellent and the London office a very good BREEAM rating (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology).
	DFID actively encourages car sharing schemes and we publish bus/train timetables on our internal website as well as links to external public transport sites. DFID is also part of a carbon offsetting project with three major airlines where air miles are exchanged for earth miles which contribute to carbon offset projects designed to neutralise harmful emissions from air travel. DFID welcomes any support and advice on managing carbon emissions so we will be giving serious consideration to joining up to the Carbon Trust Carbon Management Programme.

Gershon Review

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made, in terms of (a) headcount reductions and (b) cost savings, in achieving the efficiency objectives set for the Department by the Gershon review.

Hilary Benn: Progress was reported in the Budget 2005 and in the 2005 departmental report. Further progress will be reported in the forthcoming 2005 autumn performance report and at aggregate level in the pre-Budget report.

Gershon Review

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who in the Department has been made responsible for achieving the efficiency objectives set for the Department by the Gershon review.

Hilary Benn: As the Secretary of State, I am responsible for the overall delivery of the Department's efficiency programme.

Governance

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how frequently the Department formally reviews levels of good governance, transparency and corruption in the countries in which it works.

Gareth Thomas: Governance features in the assessments of aid partnerships at a frequency agreed with the partner. Normally this occurs every three to five years, with plans monitored annually.
	A Fiduciary Risk Assessment is mandatory for all Poverty Reduction Budget Support programmes. It is normally updated every three years. In the interim, annual statements of progress are produced.
	Where there has been a major change in circumstances, and or there is an overall negative trend in public financial management performance, the Fiduciary Risk Assessment is updated on an annual basis.

Healthcare Professionals Recruitment

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what representations he has received from (a) healthcare recruitment agencies, (b) developing countries and (c) representatives of health workers on the Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals.

Gareth Thomas: DFID and the Department of Health (DoH) officials are working closely together on ethical international recruitment practices of health care workers which includes DFID's participation in the Department of Health's International Recruitment Board. DFID was pleased to contribute to the revision of the Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals last year and welcomed the strengthening of the code particularly in relation to the inclusion of the private sector.
	During my recent trip to Zambia and Malawi with the Minister of State for the DoH, my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton), we discussed health worker shortages and international recruitment practices with local officials and health workers. We recognised that while the code has had some impact, there is consensus that it can not address the root causes of worker shortages. A number of DFID country offices are working with developing country governments to address their health worker shortages based on locally recommended solutions to build stronger health systems and services. This includes increasing national training capacity while simultaneously making improvements to working terms and conditions which directly affect recruitment, retention and performance of existing workers.
	Outside of my visits to Zambia and Malawi, I have not received formal representations from the other groups mentioned in the hon. Member's question. The DoH officials, along with national health service (NHS) employers are taking an active lead in the implementation and monitoring of the code and representations related to the code that have been directly addressed to the them.

HIV (Africa)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to tackle mother to child HIV infection in Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK is committed to spending 1.5 billion on HIV and AIDS globally over the next three years. DFID's approach to tackling mother to child HIV infection (MTCT) in pregnancy, labour and delivery in Africa is primarily through strengthening comprehensive national HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care services. This includes improving national health services and specific action to reduce MTCT such as voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) targeted at women, replacement feeding where feasible and anti retroviral therapy (ART) including the use of Nevirapine.
	The UK also provides funding to African countries via the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). This includes significant resources for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care including interventions to prevent MTCT.
	DFID also provides core funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and recognises its role as a global technical agency which provides guidelines on treatment for HIV positive mothers.

House Building (Planar Technology)

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will assess the merits of using planar technology in house building for developing countries.

Hilary Benn: DFID's approach to shelter and housing is not to specify particular technologies, but to support demand driven programmes which focus on enabling communities to develop their own solutions to local challenges, as in the case of our support to the Community Led Infrastructure Financing Facility (CLIFF). DFID funds a major programme of social and scientific research that enables effective solutions involving the full range of appropriate technologies. Details of our research can be found on DFID's website http://www.dfid.gov.uk/research/.

Hurricane Damage

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance has been provided to (a) the Mexican Government and (b) the Caribbean islands to counter hurricane damage.

Gareth Thomas: Both Mexico and the Caribbean countries affected by recent tropical storms and hurricanes have shown sufficient national capacity to respond without international assistance. Therefore there have been no requests for international assistance.
	Throughout the hurricane season, the DFID Caribbean office has been strengthened to enhance monitoring of tropical storm development, preparedness and the potential for assessment and response action. DFID also has relief supplies (1,800 collapsible five litres jerry cans and 1,500 tarpaulins) on one of the UK frigates based in the Caribbean.

Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the rebuilding of Iraq.

Hilary Benn: Progress has been made on reconstruction in Iraq in spite of all the challenges. After decades of damage by a repressive regime it will take time to build Iraqi institutions, improve infrastructure and services for the long term, and for the private sector to flourish. Continued violence and sabotage have also inevitably hampered the reconstruction effort. However, there has been continued economic growth; power generation is higher than before the conflict; more Iraqis now have access to drinking water and sewerage systems; thousands of health care and education facilities have been rehabilitated; transport and telecommunication systems are improving and civil society groups and the media are flourishing and finding ways of engaging in the political process.
	The Iraqi Government is leading on the rebuilding and development of Iraq. New Iraqi led donor co-ordination mechanisms are up and running in Baghdad. Sector working groups in health, education, energy, and rule of law are meeting regularly, led by Iraqi Ministries with support from the UN, the World Bank, and a range of donors. There is now an increasing number of international donors and representatives of the multilateral agencies based in Iraq.
	DFID has so far disbursed more than 290 million on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq since 2003. DFID's programme in 200506 focuses on:
	advising the Iraqi Government on macro-economic reform;
	building Iraqi Government institutions at the centre of government in Baghdad and in the four southern provinces;
	improving power and water services in the south and helping the Iraqi government to develop a long-term power sector strategy;
	supporting the development of Iraqi civil society organisations; and
	encouraging broad participation in the political process.
	DFID also provided 70 million to the international reconstruction fund facility for Iraq (IRFFI). The UN and the World Bank manage the IRFFI and continue to carry out a range of programmes in sectors such as health, education, and water and sanitation.
	The following table outlines some of the major reconstruction achievements.
	
		
			 Area of reconstruction Achievements 
		
		
			 Economy Rapid recovery with 50 per cent. growth in 2004. Inflation is under control and the new Iraqi Dinar is holding its value against the dollar. DFID support contributed to the Iraqi Government's successful negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2004 and 2005, paving the way for agreement of an 80 per cent. Paris Club debt reduction deal. 
			 Power In spite of regular sabotage and breakdowns of dilapidated infrastructure, power generation has remained above pre-war levels. However, demand has also increased dramatically as a result of economic growth and greater use of electrical goods. DFID has repaired transmission lines securing electricity supplies for 1.5 million residents of Basra; improved distribution to 13 areas of Basra and by summer 2006 will have added or secured 720MW. 
			 Water and sanitation 1.25 million more Iraqis have access to drinking water than before the conflict; 9.6 million more have access to a sewerage system. DFID has repaired 4,880 leaks across the four southern governorates; provided technical advice for a major sewage installation in al Amarah, providing up to half the city's population with access to a piped system and replacing open sewage channels; and is currently establishing water towers to improve supplies to 500,000 people in the poorest district of Basra city. 
			 Health The Iraqi Government reports that health care spending is up more than 30 times on the pre-conflict level. Extensive disease control programmes, led by the Iraqi Government and UN agencies, have led to a decline in malaria, polio, measles, and rubella. Over 150 health care facilities have been rehabilitated and several thousand health care professionals have been trained. 
			 Education Over 3,500 schools have been rehabilitated. 69 million textbooks have been delivered to 19,000 schools.More than 30,000 school teachers and administrators trained. 
			 Civil Society 2,500 Iraqi NGOs are now registered with the Iraqi Government. Freedom of speech has been established in law and independent media is flourishing. DFID has funded new, independent radio and TV stations in the south, and is supporting grass-roots Iraqi organisations such as women's groups, trade unions, and student organisations.

IT Projects

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many IT projects have been developed for his Department since 2001; and whether he has agreed to make public Gateway reviews for these projects (a) in full and (b) in part.

Gareth Thomas: The exact number of IT projects of all sizes developed in DFID since 2001 cannot be determined without incurring a disproportionate cost. Three large current projects have been subject to the Gateway process, two assessed as medium risk and one as low risk. Gateway review reports have been produced for two of these projects and are confidential to the Senior Responsible Owners. Under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000, each request for the release of information contained in a Gateway review is considered on a case-by-case basis. To date, DFID has received no FOI requests relating to Gateway reviews.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to promote uptake of the national tests in adult literacy and numeracy amongst employees of his Department.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is committed to the development and maintenance of literacy and numeracy skills. We have a comprehensive skills development plan which takes account of the potential need for basic skills training and qualifications.
	An employer toolkit on Adult Basic Skills is available on our intranet and we hold an annual in-house event during Adult Learning Week, which focuses on the assessment and development of literacy and numeracy. On our intranet, we advertise emails for providers of learning basic skills.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many employees in his Department requested training to improve their (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills in each year since 2002.

Gareth Thomas: In the Department for International Development (DFID), requests for training are usually handled between an employee and their line manager.
	There are no centralised systems or processes that require line managers to record or report on the types of learning support requested by individual staff members.
	At present therefore, the data requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	It is also worth noting that the perceived stigma involved in declaring skills deficit in literacy and numeracy may prevent employees from requesting this support from their line manager.
	In recognition of this, DFID has appointed union learning representatives, and has developed internal web pages to enable staff to assess their skills and access support without going through their line manager.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on in-house training on (a) literacy and (b) numeracy (i) in total and (ii) per head, in each year since 2002.

Gareth Thomas: Within the Department for International Development, the responsibility for setting and allocating training budgets is devolved to the departmental level. There are currently no centralised learning management e-systems to record or report on the types of learning activities associated with their training spend. The implementation of an e-system is planned for 2006.
	Therefore, at present, the data requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Malawi

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the United Nations appeal for famine victims in Malawi has raised; and what steps the UK Government have taken to raise the funds requested by the United Nations.

Hilary Benn: As off 26 October 2005, the UN had received pledges of $29 million towards its Flash Appeal for Malawi. Prior to the UN Appeal, Malawi had received pledges of $60 million. Total pledges to the current food distribution programme as of 27 October were $89 million. The UK has contributed 15.2 million ($27.4 million) to the current crisis. Of this, 10.2 million (18.4 million), which was pledged before the UN Appeal, has paid for 70,000 tonnes of food and the financing of a logistics unit that is distributing food on behalf of the Government. A further pledge of 5 million, the largest response to the UN Appeal, has been used by the Government of Malawi to buy options on 60,000 tonnes of maize in case the food situation worsens; the purchase of seeds for next year's harvest plus support for UNICEF's nutritional rehabilitation units which treat severely malnourished children.

Malawi

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the famine in Malawi.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham to the response I gave to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) on 31 October 2005, Official Report, column 768W.

Marrakech Conference

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to fulfil the political declaration made at the Conference of the Parties 7 in Marrakech to provide the balance of the original pledge for adaptation measures in less-developed countries.

Gareth Thomas: The EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Canada and New Zealand are signatories to the Bonn Political Declaration, which commits them to contribute funding collectively of US $410 million annually from 2005 to 2008. Expenditure must be additional to expenditure levels in 2001. Any financial support that enables developing countries to respond to climate change, including reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to the impacts of climate change, capacity building and research counts towards the total.
	The UK will meet its share of the Bonn Political Declaration through a variety of means, including our contribution to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) set up under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), our work with partner governments, and research.
	DFID has committed a core contribution of 103 million to the GEF for the period 2002 to 2006 and an additional 15 million as a voluntary commitment, making the UK the fourth largest donor to the facility. Negotiations for the fourth replenishment are under way and will be complete by the end of 2005. Around a third of the GEF budget is spent on climate change.
	DFID has committed 10 million over three years to the SCCF, which will be used to help developing countries to mainstream climate change responses into development planning, policies and implementation. The first tranche was disbursed in 2005.
	DFID Bangladesh is providing 6 million over five years to support the UN Development Programme and the Government of Bangladesh to establish a Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme. This programme focuses on risk reduction, including longer term climate risks.
	DFID's Central Research Department is initiating a 25 million collaborative research and capacity development programme on climate adaptation starting in 2006 for five years.
	DFID is working to put climate risk assessment procedures in place for UK funded development in line with the G8 and Commission for Africa recommendations that investments in climate sensitive sectors should be screened to determine how their performance might be affected by climate risks.
	DFID is also working to take forward other commitments made on climate change in the G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action, in particular, those related to helping developing countries obtain full benefit from the global climate observation system, arid a package of measures to make energy generation and consumption less carbon-intensive.

Microfinance Initiatives

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) funding and (b) other support his Department gave to microfinance initiatives in the developing world in the last financial year.

Gareth Thomas: DFID directly supports microfinance in 25 countries and has provided approximately 28 million during the last financial year. DFID also funds international agencies that actively support microfinance and financial sector development, such as the World Bank, the European Union, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), the International Finance Corporation and the Asian Development Bank.
	Microfinance, or financial services for those on low or very low incomes, is a powerful tool to fight poverty and help reach the Millennium Development Goals. The UN Year for Microcredit 2005, has provided additional input to this agenda. However, in many developing countries, less than 10 per cent. of the population currently has effective access to formal financial services.
	In addition to existing programmes, microfinance initiatives supported by DFID last year included:
	Design of new financial sector programmes in Bangladesh, Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia.
	Increased role for banks and other financial institutions to scale up provision of financial services.
	Remittance country partnerships with Bangladesh, Ghana and Nigeria.
	Better remittance product information and cost data to encourage competition and better products for migrants transferring money (www.senmoneyhome.org).
	Joint support with the World Bank and the United Nations Capital Development Fund, to agree on indicators to measure access to financial services and to initiate such data collection beyond Southern Africa.

Millennium Development Goals

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress the Government are making towards meeting millennium development goal five on reducing global maternity mortality by two-thirds by 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Some 529,000 woman die in pregnancy and childbirth every year, equivalent to one woman every minute. Without considerably more action, target 5 of the millennium development goals (MDGs), to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters between 1990 and 2015, will not be met. Maternal mortality is one of the greatest indicators of the stark inequities between rich and poor. A woman in Sierra Leone, for example, faces a risk of dying each time she gives birth which is 200 times that of a woman in the UK.
	Achieving this millennium goal will be difficult, but as outlined in our 2004 strategy for reducing maternal deaths, DFID is committed to a year-on-year increase in our support to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality. The UK has been recognised for having developed this strategy specific to maternal health (and remains the only bilateral donor to do so). Feedback indicates that the high level of political commitment to reducing maternal deaths by DFID is effectively raising the profile of this important development issue.
	DFID is supporting work on maternal health through our bilateral country programmes, and assistance to the UN and the World Health Organisation (WHO). In India, where a quarter of all maternal deaths occur, political commitment is growing and DFID supports the national Reproductive and Child Health programme. In Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Cambodia, China and Bangladesh, DFID continues to be at the forefront of work to reduce maternal deaths. In Africa, we are working against severe constraints (in part reflecting the impact of HIV and conflict on maternal deaths), to address the lack of human resources and basic health services. As described in the strategy, we ensure focus to the broader reproductive health and rights of women essential to preventing these unnecessary and tragic deaths.
	DFID is also supporting the new global Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, as a catalyst in helping countries harness, for the benefit of women and children, the significant resources committed by the G8 and promised by the EU for poverty reduction.

Natural Disasters

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will assess the merits of providing deployable rapid assembly shelters for use following natural disasters; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has considered the use of deployable rapid assembly shelters for use following natural disasters.
	In any disaster situation, we consider a number of different factors when assessing what type of shelter is most suitable. These include the needs of the people, the average size of families, issues such as heating arrangements and cooking facilities based on the way the people normally use such items and the relative cost of the different options available. We then make a judgment on what shelter is the most appropriate for any given disaster or situation.
	We also consider the availability of transport to move items around the country, to ensure that materials sent to a disaster region are distributed immediately. In addition we must also consider how easy it is to build and maintain the shelters that we do send.
	In the case of the devastation caused by the South Asia earthquake, we believe that winterised family tents are the most cost effective and efficient use of aid resources.

Nicaragua

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2005, Official Report, columns 3132W, on Nicaragua, what steps he takes to ensure monies allocated for dispersal by the Nicaraguan authorities in the Atlantic Coast Region are spent there.

Gareth Thomas: A key way to ensure moneys are spent as intended is to have an effective, independent and reliable audit system. As the result of the support of a number of donors, the Nicaraguan National Comptroller's Office will soon be able to share its audit of all central Government expenditure (for 2004 expenditure) with donors for the first time. DFID, together with German aid, is providing the support needed also to complete the first audit of all municipal government expenditure (for 2004 and 2005 expenditure) by the third quarter of 2006. Together, these audits will enable donors to compare actual expenditure with planned expenditure for the bulk of activities funded by the Government of Nicaragua, including monies allocated for the Atlantic Coast Region.
	DFID's support for the audit of municipal authorities is part of a recently approved 1.5 million project to strengthen the accountability of municipal governments. The project will also support the ability of private sector organisations and civil society to monitor the performance of municipalities. This will increase the pressure on them to use monies as intended.
	The Nicaraguan Ministry of Finance has recently introduced a financial management system that provides web access to monthly statements of unaudited expenditure by sector, department and institution, this information can be found the web address at: (www.consultaciudadana.gob.ni/cciudadana). The Nicaraguan Ministry of Finance is also able to analyse expenditure by region and intends to make these reports available on the web as well in the near future.

Nigeria

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what transparency and accountability mechanisms the Department has in place to ensure that debt relief for Nigeria is used to alleviate poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Nigerian Government have decided that all of the savings from debt relief will be dedicated to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. For 2006, these savings will be around $1 billion. The Nigerian Government are ensuring that this is spent on poverty reduction through an expenditure tracking system known as a Virtual Poverty Fund. This will track the flow of funds into spending on sectors such as health, education, water, agriculture, power and roads.
	The President has welcomed international involvement in overseeing expenditure through this mechanism and has set up a high level committee including donors and civil society; the structure should be in place by the end of this year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will monitor progress with reform as part of the debt deal. The World Bank will also carry out a public expenditure review next year.

Pakistan

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response the UK Government have made to the requests by the President of Pakistan for heavy transport helicopters.

Gareth Thomas: On the 20 October, the Secretary of State for International Development announced that Britain would provide an additional 20 million towards the earthquake relief effort in Pakistan. Part of that provision would fund three British military CH-47 Chinook helicopters (up to 3.0 million), in addition to the helicopter operations already being part-funded (1.0 million) by the Department for International Development (DFID) through the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Renewable Energy

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has given to promoting renewable energy strategies in developing countries.

Hilary Benn: Improved access to affordable and reliable energy supplies and services is essential for developing countries to increase their economic growth and achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals.
	DFID has welcomed the decision last year by the World Bank Group to increase its annual lending for renewable energy and energy efficiency by an average of 20 per cent. per year, over the five years to 2010. DFID is working with the World Bank to see if a higher level of investment can be achieved.
	DFID has provided 10 million for energy research projects, mostly over the past eight years, of which about 3.6 million was spent on the development and promotion of renewable energy, especially for rural communities. This has included a wide range of technologies such as wind, small hydropower, solar and biomass.
	DFID is currently working with international networks such as the Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP) and the EU Energy Initiative (EUEI) to promote access to affordable energy services, drawing on the full menu of technology options, including renewable energy.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect on the humanitarian effort of militia activity along tribal lines in Darfur.

Hilary Benn: Tribal allegiance is one factor which influences the organisation and actions of militias in Darfur, for both the Arab militias and the rebel movements, but there are many other factors, including political and financial gain.
	In his most recent report, the UN Secretary General refers to frequent harassment and assaults on humanitarian aid workers during incidents of banditry. He states that these attacks have increased in cruelty and violence. Insecurity caused by the presence and activities of armed groups result in limited humanitarian access to vulnerable populations. All parties to the conflict have an obligation to ensure access for humanitarian agencies, and we condemn any activities, which impede the humanitarian response.

Sudan

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of people in need of food aid in Darfur.

Hilary Benn: The UN World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 3.2 million people in Darfur required food aid in October 2005. The WFP and other UN agencies are conducting their annual assessment of food needs in Darfur, which will provide a more accurate picture of the needs in 2006. We expect the results will be released in December.

World Trade System

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with groups advocating reform of the world trade system.

Hilary Benn: A trading system which is fair and supports development is fundamental. With the World Trade Organisation's ministerial conference in Hong Kong only weeks away, securing the best outcome from the conference and the trade round itself has been a theme of numerous discussions I have had in recent weeks with counterparts from the European Union, developing countries and civil society groups. This will remain a priority.

Zambia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received of fuel shortages in Zambia; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: My right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State recently visited Lusaka and was briefed by DFID staff about the fuel shortages. He met with Mr. Dipak Patel, Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry, who was subsequently appointed by President Mwanawasa to head a ministerial committee on the fuel shortages. The committee is resolving the crisis and developing a medium term strategy to ensure better fuel supplies.
	Recent shutdowns at Indeni in Ndola (Zambia's only oil refinery) seriously disrupted supplies of petrol and diesel. There have been long queues at filling stations around the country. Major businesses including the copper mines and commercial agriculture have been affected. Continued fuel shortages will reduce economic growth and increase inflation. Rising transport costs have pushed up other prices.
	Food prices are of particular concern given the recent drought and there may be a rise in the number of people in need of food aid. DFID is assessing the case for more humanitarian relief over and above recently agreed funding of the World Food Programme and Oxfam in Zambia.
	Last week, most parts of the country had some petrol and diesel due to more refined supplies being brought into the country by tankers. However, the situation is not back to normal. The Indeni refinery is not yet operating effectively. The lack of reserves remains a concern.
	On 5 October 2005, the Zambian Government requested support from DFID to advise on options for future petroleum supplies in the country, including a technical and financial review of the Indeni refinery. DFID organised the visit of an expert to Lusaka to discuss these requests with Minster Patel and agree on their scope. DFID will be providing further support in co-operation with other development agencies.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Autistic Children

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what plans she has to introduce a requirement of minimum training standards for people who work with autistic children; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how much teacher training time is devoted to lessons on training to identify children with dyslexia; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The National Standards for Qualified Teacher Status, and the Induction Standards for Newly Qualified Teachers, both cover special educational needs (SEN), which would include autistic spectrum disorders as well as specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia. The requirements are designed to ensure that teachers are able to support pupils with SEN and can differentiate their teaching to meet the needs of such pupils.
	The National Occupational Standards for Teaching/Classroom Assistants also contain elements relevant to working with pupils with SEN or particular educational needs. Similarly, the Standards for Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs), for which the Training and Development Agency for Schools is responsible, require HLTAs to be familiar with guidance about meeting SEN given in the SEN Code of Practice. The IDA will be reviewing its standards as part of its new responsibilities for the school work force.
	Some social workers also come into contact with autistic children and their families. The new Social Work degree was introduced in 2003 as a three year course to improve the skills base and competence of newly-qualified social workers. For non qualified Social Care staff, the National Minimum Standards, set by the Department of Health, require that 50 per cent. of care staff and 100 per cent. of registered managers achieve an NVQ qualification by 2005/06.
	Information as to the specific amount of time allocated by teacher training institutions or schools to training in particular aspects of SEN, such as autism and dyslexia, is not collected centrally by the Department. However, we have pointed to the importance of these areas. The Good Practice Guidance on Autistic Spectrum Disorders, which the Departments for Education and Skills and Health published in 2002, made knowledge and understanding of ASDs the first of its key principles which should underlie provision for children with the disorders. It advised that
	all those who plan and provide for children with an ASD should have some knowledge and understanding of autism.
	As regards dyslexia, the Department's Primary National Strategy has produced an extensive range of specific guidance material for schools on evidence-based interventions for children with significant literacy and numeracy difficulties. A three wave model of intervention has been developed, designed to identify and support those children experiencing difficulty in literacy and/or mathematics, a good many of whom are likely to fall somewhere on the dyslexia spectrum.
	We have also produced guidance material on classroom strategies to enable dyslexic pupils to access learning and have recently released a new interactive CD-ROM based in-service training resource, Learning and teaching for dyslexic children. This has been developed in collaboration with the British Dyslexia Association and the Dyslexia Institute. The resource is designed to help school staff increase their awareness and understanding of the barriers to learning presented by dyslexia, and the teaching strategies that can be used to overcome them.

Dental Schools

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what extra allocation of dental school training places was made for 200506; to which dental schools; how many of these extra places were temporary allocations for one year; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Intake targets for English dental schools have been increased by 261 for 200506. The allocations by dental school are shown in the table.
	
		Allocations of additional dental school training places 200506
		
			 Dental school Permanent allocation Temporary allocation Total 
		
		
			 Birmingham 11 15 26 
			 Bristol 28 9 37 
			 King's College London 13 18 31 
			 Leeds 22 9 31 
			 Liverpool 25 15 40 
			 Newcastle 7 20 27 
			 Queen Mary, University of London23 9 32 
			 Sheffield 28 9 37 
			 Total 157 104 261 
		
	
	Source:
	HEFCE.
	These changes represent a significant expansion of dental student intake targets from 576 to 837, and have enabled actual undergraduate dental numbers to increase by 170. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and Department of Health are currently in the process of assessing bids to make permanent arrangements for the temporary allocations, and will make recommendations to the HEFCE Board in January. HEFCE and the Department for Health intend to inform institutions of the Board's decision early in the new year, and will be assessing the need for further expansion in dental places in the lead up to the next Comprehensive Spending Review.

Departmental Energy Consumption

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much energy has been consumed by her Department in each of the last five years; and how much was spent on energy in each year.

Maria Eagle: Energy consumption and spend in the Departments' HQ buildings in each of the last five years' is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Kwh Spend () 
		
		
			 2004/05 30,612,603 1,226,279 
			 2003/04 29,628,144 987,309 
			 2002/03 30,956,504 998,339 
			 2001/02 34,856,203 1,120,938 
			 2000/01 34,883,455 1,025,894

Departmental Research

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list research commissioned by the Department in the past 12 months.

Bill Rammell: I am able to list the 68 research projects that the DfES has commissioned in the past 12 months (from 1 November 2004 to 1 November 2005).
	List of research commissioned by the DfES since 1 November 2004
	1. A Study Of Suitable Methods For Raising School and Pupil Response Rates In Educational Research.
	2. Adoption Initiative: Supporting the birth relatives of adopted children and supporting post-adoption contact in complex cases.
	3. Analysis of predicted A level grades and offers in sample applicants in 2004 cycle.
	4. Apprenticeship Pay: A Survey of Earnings by Sector.
	5. Behaviour and Education Support Team Evaluation.
	6. Benefits Interaction Survey.
	7. Case StudentshipInstitute of Education EPPE team.
	8. Child care and early years provider survey.
	9. Children and Young People's Home Use of ICT for Educational Purposes: The Impact on Attainment of Key Stages 14.
	10. Connexions Direct: Users Views' survey and mystery shopping exercise.
	11. Consultancy for the PISA Technical Review Group.
	12. Consultancy for the PISA Technical Review Group.
	13. Data linking for HE monitoring, research and evaluation.
	14. Developing Extensions To DEA Techniques.
	15. Developing New Techniques For DEA (part 2).
	16. Dissemination of the Review of Fostering Research.
	17. Educating Difficult Adolescents.
	18. Effects of pupil grouping.
	19. Estimating The Relationship Between School Resources and Pupil Attainment at GCSE.
	20. Evaluating Common Assessment Framework and Lead Professionals Guidance and Implementation.
	21. Evaluation Of Aimhigher.
	22. Evaluation of Family Resolutions
	23. Evaluation of Full Service Extended Schools (Stage 2).
	24. Evaluation of Parent Partnership Services.
	25. Evaluation of the Connexions through children's trusts case studies.
	26. Examining the feasibility and desirability of an evolved CDL programme for learning below level 4.
	27. Extended Services in Schools: Baseline Survey of Maintained Schools in 2005.
	28. Foundation research on the motivations and mindsets of young people
	29. Further Work on The Impact of School Resourcing on Attainment in Secondary Schools.
	30. Higher Education Institutions' Finances and Provision: Baseline Institutional Case Studies.
	31. How do young people make choices at KS3  4?
	32. Impact of e-learning in FE survey.
	33. Improving qualifications information in the LFS.
	34. Learning from the Family Support Grant.
	35. Linking up directories of children's services.
	36. Literature review of phonics use.
	37. London Challenge: Pupil and Teacher Surveys 2005.
	38. London Challenge: Third Survey of Parents and Carers 2005.
	39. Main Stage of the Evaluation of the Extended Schools Child care and Child care Taster Pilots.
	40. Mapping of qualifications and training development across the children and young people's workforce.
	41. NALS 2005.
	42. National Audit of Low Incidence Special Educational Needs Support, Services and Provision.
	43. National Research Co-ordination For England's Participation in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).
	44. OECD Thematic Review Of Tertiary Education.
	45. Parental Involvement in Children's Education.
	46. Partners Surveys.
	47. Provider Performance Case Studies.
	48. Quality of Child care in the Millennium Cohort Study.
	49. Research into the deployment patterns of mathematics and science teachers.
	50. Research into the recruitment, deployment and management of supply teachers in England.
	51. Research on employers use and views on vocational qualifications.
	52. Research to inform the management and governance of children's centres.
	53. Safeguarding immigrant children.
	54. School meals in primary schools.
	55. Schools' Use of Data in Teaching and Learning.
	56. Special Educational Needs and Minority Ethnic Groups: a literature review.
	57. Student Loan Repayment Models 2005.
	58. Study of the Impact of e-learning on participation, retention and attainment in Further Education.
	59. Study of the impact of level 2 learning and qualificationsmain stage.
	60. Teaching Approaches to promote consistent level 4 performance in key stage 2 English and Mathematics.
	61. The Children, Young People and Families Tracking StudyEvery Child Matters: Children's Workforce Research Project.
	62. The role of Training Allowances in incentivising the behaviour of young people and employers.
	63. The School Sports Partnership Programme: Evaluation 2005/06.
	64. Tracking EPPE pupils from KS2 to KS3.
	65. Using Cross Classified Models to Improve Estimates of the Determination of Pupil Attainment: Literature Review and Scoping Study.
	66. Validation Study of the Pisa 2000, Pisa-2003 and Timss-2003 International Studies of Pupil Attainment (ISAS).
	67. Validity Study of the Use of an Aptitude Test in University Entrance.
	68. Why here? Report of qualitative work with teachers working in schools above and below the floor targets.

Departmental Spending

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department spent on items of art in 200405.

Maria Eagle: The information requested could not be identified from the Departmental Resource Accounting System and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department for Education and Skills do not hold any works of art on its Asset Register.
	The Departments Asset Register records assets with a value over 2,500. Items of art below 2,500 may or may not have been purchased but could not be identified from the Departmental Resource Accounting System.

Education White Paper

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with the Prime Minister during the preparation of the Education White Paper.

Ruth Kelly: I have had a number of constructive discussions with the Prime Minister in preparing the White Paper.

Further Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Department has for reviewing the levels of funding allocated to further education in (a) Coventry and (b) England.

Bill Rammell: On 21 October, I made an announcement, setting out the Government's strategic direction for the learning and skills sector for the coming period. My main purpose for doing so was to ensure the 2006/07 funding allocations process began with a clear and concise message on the principles that will underpin funding over the next two years.
	In addition, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) published Priorities for Successa document that sets out the funding strategy for the next two years in more detail. This document is available on the LSC's website.
	Although more funding will be going into the sector, we will focus funding even more strongly on key priorities of raising participation and achievement 1419 and driving down the skills deficit in the adult work force. This will mean that less provision outside these priority areas can be supported at previous levels, and that there has to be a new balance of responsibilities between government, employers and learners to achieve this.
	The Chancellor announced in the 2004 spending review settlement for education and skills in April 2004, that there will be over 1 billion of additional investment in the learning and skills sector by 200708. We will not know what this will mean for regional and local budgets until allocations are made by the National LSC Office, following receipt of the grant letter from my Department.

Graduate Numbers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the working age population in (a) Ribble Valley and (b) Lancashire hold a qualification (i) at degree level and (ii) above degree level.

Bill Rammell: The following table shows analysis of the qualification levels of the working age population in the Ribble Valley and Lancashire at degree level (level 4) and above degree level (level 5). This is presented alongside England average data for comparison. Data comes from the Local Labour Force Survey for 200405.
	
		Percentage
		
			 Qualification level Ribble Valley Lancashire England 
		
		
			 Above degree level (level 5) 4.2 3.8 5.3 
			 Degree level (level 4) 29.4 21.6 20.8 
		
	
	Note:
	The working age population is defined as males and females aged 16 to 64 and 16 to 59 respectively.

IT Projects

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list for each IT project her Department has undertaken since May 1997 which has incurred a total expenditure of 5 million or more (a) the name of the project, (b) its intended purpose, (c) the principal contractors involved and the payments made to each, (d) the original estimate of the cost of the project, (e) the actual outturn of expenditure on the project, (f) the intended date on which the project was to be fully implemented, (g) the actual date on which it was fully implemented or cancelled, (h) modifications which have been made to the project since it was first commissioned, (i) contractors on the project whose contracts have been cancelled, (j) replacement or additional contractors on the project, (k) the most reliable estimate of public expenditure saved as a result of implementing the project and (l) the most reliable estimates of improved performance of departmental functions as a result of implementing the project.

Maria Eagle: The information as requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Education and Skills. To respond fully would involve an extensive internal and external information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.
	To be helpful, current departmental records show that the following nine live ICT-enabled programmes and projects each exceed or will exceed a total expenditure of 5 million. Also included in the list are details of the Department's individual learning account (ILA) programme which has previously been subject to scrutiny by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts Committee 1 , and UK e-university project which has previously been subject to scrutiny by the House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee 2 . The list is not exhaustive. Expenditure does not include DfES staff and associated costs.
	1 House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts (2003), individual learning accounts, Tenth Report of Session 200203 (Ref: HC 544), TSO, London.
	2 House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee (2005), UK e-university, Third Report of Session 200405 (Ref: HC 205), TSO, London.
	
		
			 Project name Intended purpose Cost or estimated cost 
		
		
			 Individual learning accounts (ILAs) To widen participation in learning and to help overcome financial barriers faced by individuals (especially those with -accounts particular learning or skill needs). (Introduced in England in September 2000, the ILA scheme was successful in attracting over one million people back into learning. However, in November 2001, the Government withdrew it following allegations of fraud and abuse.) Total expenditure is likely to exceed 290 million against a budget of 199 million. (The scale of fraud and abuse is estimated at 97 million, including 67 million fraud.) 
			 UK e-university To provide internet-based UK higher education to an expanding global market. 50 million 
			 IS index project To deliver a solution to facilitate contact between practitioners from different services and agencies which will, in turn, enable them to share information appropriately and securely for the benefit of children, young people and families. Estimated one-off implementation costs 225 million over three-five years. Ongoing annual operational costs estimated at 64 million per annum thereafter. 
			 Strategic technologies and value for schools programme To reduce risk and create a more coherent approach to ICT procurement and provision in schools. 431 million capital 140 million revenue, plus programme costs approx 12 million over three-year (10.5 million Becta, 1.5 million DfES) 
			 Student support modernisation programme To modernise student support arrangements for England and Wales Estimated 15 million. 
		
	
	
		
			 Project name Intended purpose Cost or estimated cost 
		
		
			 Key Stage 3 ICT assessment programme To develop and implement an onscreen test of pupils' ICT capability at the end of Key Stage 3, and ensure schools' readiness to administer the test. 29 million. 
			 Change for children programme To enable children and young people to receive the universal services they are entitled to and any additional services they need at the earliest opportunity. Estimate: 250300 million development/implementation costs, 60 million P/A running costs. 
			 SLC academic year 06/07 delivery programme New IT system to modernise Student Loans Company business processes and enhance delivery of student finance to customers. 14.635 million. 
			 Teacher development agency customer communication service programme Provision of a service to convert eligible enquirers into applicants for initial teacher training. 9 million. 
			 Electronic data and records management system (EDRMS) DfES (Internal) electronic records management system. Up to 5.93 million. 
			 Bichard bvetting and barring scheme To design a vetting and barring scheme that meets the requirements of recommendation 19 of the Bichard Inquiry at an appropriate cost, with implementation in 2007.To reduce the incidence of harm to children and vulnerable adults by those who work with them by identifying and removing those known to be unsuitable from the workforce. 18.1 million for implementation (2005/06 to 2007/08). Long-term funding arrangements for operation of the scheme to be agreed with OGDs.

IT Projects

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many IT projects have been developed for her Department since 2001; and whether she has agreed to make public (a) in full and (b) in part the Gateway Reviews for these projects.

Maria Eagle: The information as requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Education and Skills. To respond to the question fully would involve an extensive internal and external information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold. However, to be helpful, current departmental records confirm that in excess of 72 DfES-led IT projects have gone through the Office for Government Commerce Gateway Review process since 2001.
	With regard to the release of Gateway Review Reports, as these are conducted on a confidential basis for the Senior Responsible Owner of the project concerned the information contained within the reports is not proactively or routinely released. However, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000, requests for the release of information contained in Gateway Review reports are considered on a case-by-case basis. To date, the Department has received no such FOIA requests.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much her Department spent on in-house training on (a) literacy and (b) numeracy (i) in total and (ii) per head in each year since 2002;
	(2)  how many employees in her Department requested training to improve their (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills in each year since 2002;
	(3)  what steps she is taking to promote uptake of the national tests in adult literacy and numeracy among employees of her Department.

Maria Eagle: Within my Department, the prime responsibility for developing and coaching staff lies with line managers who are best placed to assess individual needs. Most learning takes place on the job and is supplemented by centrally provided basic skills development through the Department's internal learning and development unit. Since 2002 the internal learning and development unit has spent 7,000 on basic skills activities.
	In addition activities take place across the Department which incorporate elements of basic skills within them. It is not possible to separate these out or quantify costs.
	Since 2002, 17 people have requested training from the learning and development unit. In addition, there will be other staff who are developed by their line managers where records are not held centrally.
	The Department's basic skills framework encourages staff to sit the national tests to gain accreditation and recognition for their learning. The national tests are, typically, part of recognised basic skills programmes.

New Deal

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on her Department's contribution to the establishment of the new deal for skills.

Phil Hope: The Department for Education and Skills is working with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Trade and Industry and Her Majesty's Treasury to develop a package of measures that are known collectively as new deal for skills. As announced in Budget 2004, new deal for skills is a package of measures to help people move from welfare into sustainable, productive work and help adults in employment progress from low to higher-skilled work. For those moving from welfare into work, new deal for skills comprises three main strands: Skills coaching, skills passports and the adult learning option and is jointly project managed by DfES and DWP. DfES has made available 4 million in 200506 for the development and trials of skills coaching and skills passports which are being delivered by the Learning and Skills Council to support DWP priority customers.
	DfES has been actively involved in the design and development of the DWP-led adult learning option which aims to test the effectiveness of providing financial support to encourage low skilled Jobcentre Plus customers to take full time Level 2 learning where a lack of skills is considered to be the barrier to a return to the labour market.
	In supporting progression for those adults in work, the new national employer training programme (NETP), which will be rolled out from April 2006, will encourage employers to develop people at all levels. Unemployed people who are engaged in the new deal for skills and who join an NETP participating company will be able to draw on the services of a skills coach to help them through their first few months of employment and development.

School Standards and Framework Act

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times she has exercised powers under section 19 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 in each year since 1998.

Jacqui Smith: The Secretary of State's power under section 19 of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998 has provided a powerful stimulus to local authorities to take action in anticipation of any use of that power. The Secretary of State has not so far issued any such directions to local authorities, since in cases where the use of this power may have been considered, the local authority has used its own powers to close the school.

School Transport

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in (a) England, (b) Lancashire and (c) Ribble Valley receive free transport to (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.

Jacqui Smith: A joint survey conducted by DfES, the Confederation of Education and Childrens Service Managers and the Audit Commission, covering local authority school transport policies, expenditure and pupil numbers carried, was published for the first time in January 2004. It reported that about 700,000 pupils received free and assisted home to school transport in England, and that just under 13,500 pupils received free or assisted transport to mainstream schools in Lancashire in 2001/02. No more detailed information is available.

Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2005, Official Report, columns 21722W, on schools, if she will list the actions she has approved for each school; and whether she has exercised her powers under section 45 of the Education Act 2005.

Jacqui Smith: The action approved for individual schools, over and above the input from local authorities, is set out in the following table. In summary, additional funding has been approved for seven schools to improve capacity; 14 schools have been supported by School Improvement Partnership Boards, also with additional funding; an Interim Executive Board (IEB) has been approved for eight schools; Fresh Start proposals have been approved for three schools; four schools are part of London Challenge initiatives; and proposals have been approved for three schools to become Academies. Proposals for further Academies and another Fresh Start are currently under consideration. The power to close a school under Section 45 of the 2005 Education Act has provided a powerful stimulus to local authorities to take action in anticipation of any use of that power and has not yet been used.
	
		
			 School Local authority Date into special measures Funding to improve capacity SIPB IEB Fresh Start Academies London Challenge 
		
		
			 The Warren Comprehensive Barking and Dagenham 13 May 2004   
			 Bishop Douglass School Finchley Barnet 13 November 2003 Yes Yes 
			 Clitterhouse Junior School Barnet 3 February 2004   
			 Hollickwood Primary School Barnet 20 July 2004   
			 St. Mary's CE High School Barnet 22 October 2003 Yes Yes 
			 Elmhirst School, The Barnsley 21 April 2004   
			 Sandhill Primary School Barnsley 8 June 2004   
			 Oak Bank School Bedfordshire 24 September 2004   
			 Highters Heath Primary School Birmingham 16 June 2004   
			 Oldknow Junior School Birmingham 8 June 2004   
			 Darwen Moorland High School Blackburn 20 November 2003   Yes  Yes  
			 Boundary Community Primary School Blackpool 7 November 2002   
			 Immanuel CofE Community College Bradford 21 January 2004  Yes 
			 Rhodesway School Bradford 18 December 2002  Yes 
			 Usher Street Primary School and Nursery Bradford 10 July 2003  Yes 
			 Wedgwood School and Community Nursery Bradford 12 October 2004   
			 Windhill CE Primary School Bradford 11 February 2004  Yes 
			 Wyke Manor School Bradford 10 May 2004  Yes 
			 St. Andrew and St. Francis CofE Primary School Brent 21 April 2004   
			 Hengrove School Bristol 14 November 2003  Yes   Yes  
			 Portway Community School Bristol 14 November 2004  Yes Yes
			 Mount Pellon Junior and Infant School Calderdale 21 April 2004   
			 Robartes Junior School Cornwall 24 June 2004   
			 St. Ives Junior School Cornwall 15 February 2003   
			 St. Meriadoc CofE Junior School Cornwall 21 April 2004   
			 Tollgate Primary School Croydon 14 January 2004   
			 Winterboume Nursery and Infants' School Croydon 30 July 2004   
			 Morton Park Primary School Cumbria 12 November 2003   
			 Wyndham School Cumbria 2 March 2004   
			 Derby City PRU Derby 30 July 2004   
			 Merrill College Derby 25 September 2003 Yes  
			 Moorhead Primary School Derby 8 October 2003   
			 East-the-Water Community Primary School Devon 25 September 2003   
			 Adwick Park Junior School Doncaster 28 January 2004   
			 Northcliffe School Doncaster 27 November 2003   
			 Portland Tophill Junior School Dorset 30 July 2004   
			 The Old Park School Dudley 26 April 2004   
			 Flamborough Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School East Riding 14 January 2004   
			 Rawcliffe Pupil Referral Unit East Riding 11 February 2004   
			 Seaford Head Community College East Sussex 29 January 2004   
			 Ashingdon School Essex 4 March 2004   
			 Holy Trinity CofE VC Primary School Essex 19 December 2002   
			 Langenhoe Community Primary School Essex 27 November 2003   
			 Lexden Springs School Essex 20 July 2004   
			 St. Peter's High School and Technology College Essex 3 October 2003   
			 Templars Infant and Nursery School Essex 4 November 2003   
			 Vange Primary School and Nursery Essex 12 November 2003   
			 Sandford School Gloucestershire 12 February 2004   
			 Bishop John Robinson CE Primary School Greenwich 22 September 2004   
			 Holy Trinity CE Primary School Hackney 30 September 2004   
			 Halton High School Halton 12 July 2004   
			 Burlington Danes CofE School Hammersmith  Fulham 25 May 2004  Yes 
			 Hurlingham and Chelsea Secondary School Hammersmith  Fulham 4 March 2004  Yes 
			 Oak Farm Community School Hampshire 4 March 2004   
			 Downhills Primary School Haringey 2 December 2002   
			 Little Stanmore Nursery, First and Middle School Harrow 22 July 2004   
			 Owton Manor Primary School Hartlepool 21 June 2004   
			 King's Wood School Havering 30 April 2004 Yes Yes 
			 Weobley High School Herefordshire 8 June 2004   
			 Cotlenswood School Hertfordshire 26 November 2005   
			 Abbotsfield School for Boys Hillingdon 7 January 2003  Yes 
			 Bromstone Primary School, Broadstairs Kent 20 November 2003   
			 George Spurgen Community Primary School Kent 12 July 2004   
			 Homewood Infant School Kent 7 July 2004   
			 Lawn Primary School Kent 3 April 2000   
			 Minster College Kent 5 December 2003   Yes
			 St. Mary of Charity CE (Aided) Primary School Kent 22 July 2004   
			 Whitehill Junior School Kent 22 July 2004   
			 Endeavour High School Kingston Upon Hull 26 March 2004 Yes  
			 Birkby Junior School Kirklees 26 March 2003   
			 ETHOS Primary Pupil Referral Unit Kirklees 10 June 2004   
			 Rawthorpe High School Kirklees 28 March 2003   
			 Rawthorpe Junior School Kirklees 29 April 2004   
			 Skerton Community High School Lancashire 13 November 2003   
			 Intake High School Arts College Leeds 29 April 2004   
			 New College Leicester Leicester City 9 December 2003 Yes Yes Yes
			 Queensmead Junior School Leicester City 12 November 2002   
			 St. Peter and St. Paul Church of England Primary School, Burgh- Le-Marsh, The Lincolnshire 24 June 2003   
			 Sutton Bridge Westmere Community Primary School Lincolnshire 24 February 2004   
			 The Pinchbeck East Church of England Primary School Lincolnshire 30 July 2004   
			 Ashcroft High School Luton 19 November 2003   
			 Putteridge High School Luton 4 March 2004   
			 Meade Hill School Manchester 10 March 2004   
			 Warren Wood Community Primary School and Language Unit Medway 11 February 2004   
			 Mitcham Vale High School Merton 2 July 2004  Yes Yes
			 The Radcliffe School Milton Keynes 20 November 2003   
			 Gillingham, St. Michael's CofE Voluntary Aided First School Norfolk 11 May 2004   
			 Silverdale School North Tyneside 6 March 2003   
			 Duston Upper School Northamptonshire 18 September 2003   
			 The Orchard School Northamptonshire 10 March 2004   
			 Sherwood Hall School and Sixth Form College Nottinghamshire 21 March 2003 Yes Yes 
			 The Gedling School Nottinghamshire 13 November 2003   
			 East Crompton St. George's CofE School Oldham 21 April 2004   
			 Hardman Fold Community Special School Oldham 28 April 2004   
			 Northfield School Oxfordshire 26 April 2004   
			 Knowle Primary School Plymouth 19 November 2003   
			 Hainault Forest High School Redbridge 21 November 2003  Yes 
			 Redbridge Junior School Redbridge 16 August 2004   
			 Bullough Moor Primary School Rochdale 25 February 2004   
			 Moorhouse Primary School Rochdale 12 February 2004   
			 Wingfield Comprehensive School Rotherham 30 March 2004   
			 Harrop Fold School Salford 24 June 2003  Yes 
			 Irwell Park High School Salford 30 April 2003   
			 Moorside High School Salford 23 March 2004   
			 The Albion High School Salford 20 September 2004   
			 Langley Primary School Sandwell 5 November 2003   Yes  Yes  
			 Rood End Primary School Sandwell 2 October 2003   
			 Shirecliffe Junior School Sheffield 8 October 2003   
			 Langleywood School Slough 6 November 2003   
			 Middlezoy Primary School Somerset 22 July 2004   
			 Severn Beach Primary School South Gloucestershire 25 November 2003   
			 Prittlewell Technology College Southend 16 June 2004Yes   
			 Thorpe Bay School Southend 10 June 1999   Yes Yes   
			 Cobourg Primary School Southwark 8 June 2004   
			 Galleywall Primary School Southwark 4 March 2003   
			 Robert Browning Primary School Southwark 27 February 2003   
			 Newton-le-Willows Community High School St. Helens 15 January 2004   
			 Amington Heath Community School Staffordshire 15 October 2003   
			 Nether Stowe High School Staffordshire 17 February 2004   
			 Springhill Primary School Staffordshire 12 February 2004   
			 Kirkley Middle (Sec) School Suffolk 24 June 2003   
			 Bishop David Brown School, The Surrey 25 November 2003   
			 Potters Gate CofE Primary School Surrey 24 June 2004   
			 Watchetts Junior School Surrey 2 December 2003   
			 Seven Fields Primary School Swindon 26 February 2004   
			 Micklehurst All Saints CofE Primary School Tameside 2 April 2003   
			 Stretford High School Community Language College Trafford 22 January 2004   
			 Church Mead Junior School Waltham Forest 1 October 2004   
			 Horizon Centre Warrington 24 February 2004   
			 Woolston Community High School Warrington 12 March 2004   
			 Hartshill School Warwickshire 21 April 2004   Yes
			 Queen Elizabeth School Warwickshire 5 February 2004   
			 St. Francis Catholic Primary School Warwickshire 29 July 2004   
			 Two Porches School Wigan 7 June 2004   
			 Corsley CE Primary School Wiltshire 5 July 2004   
			 Bromsgrove, Catshill Middle (Sec) School Worcestershire 22 October 2003   
			 Kidderminster PRU Worcestershire 29 July 2004   
			 Leigh and Bransford Primary School Worcestershire 6 August 2004   
			 North Bromsgrove High School Worcestershire 4 February 2003   
			 Redgrove School Worcestershire 16 June 2004Yes

Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools had been in special measures for (a) less than one year, (b) between one and two years, (c) between two and three years and (d) over three years on 31 December in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is set out in the following table, plus the most recent figures at September 2005 for comparison purposes.
	
		Schools in special measures
		
			 As at 31 December: Less than l year 12 years 23 years Over 3 years Total 
		
		
			 1997 240 136 35 2 413 
			 1998 272 185 49 11 517 
			 1999 190 198 34 8 430 
			 2000 191 135 35 8 369 
			 2001 133 119 37 10 299 
			 2002 138 89 34 9 270 
			 2003 195 89 18 11 313 
			 2004 158 134 16 7 315 
			 2005 93 117 26 2 238

Sex Education

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has commissioned on the effects of the provision of sex education on the level of teenage pregnancy.

Maria Eagle: The factors that influence the rate of teenage pregnancy are complex and it is difficult to be precise about the impact that a single factorsuch as the quality of sex and relationships education (SRE)has on individuals' choices or rates of teenage pregnancy in particular locations. However, we do know that:
	The Social Exclusion Unit's report on Teenage Pregnancy (1999) identified ignorance of sex as a major contributory factor in England's high rate of teenage pregnancy, and argued that improving the quality of SRE should be a key element of the multi-faceted strategy to halve the rate of under-18 conceptions by 2010;
	The evidence-base for the teenage pregnancy strategy was reviewed by the Health Development Agency in 2003, which concluded that There is good evidence on the effectiveness of school based sex education, particularly linked to contraceptive services, in preventing unintended teenage pregnancies; and
	The national evaluation of the first four years of the teenage pregnancy strategy shows that young women receiving the greatest number of SRE lessons and reporting that SRE fully met their needs, are significantly less likely to become pregnant before 18.

Sex Education

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to encourage the teaching of sex education in schools, with particular reference to (a) preventing teenage pregnancy and (b) informing young people of the risk of contracting HIV and sexually-transmitted diseases.

Maria Eagle: There is a statutory duty on secondary schools to teach key aspects of sex and relationships education (SRE)in particular teaching about human reproduction and STIs and HIVwithin the statutory science curriculum.
	DfES further recommends that schools should teach about sex and relationships within the framework for Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), and in 2000 issued non-statutory guidance on SRE to help schools achieve this objective. PSHE aims to give young people the skills and knowledge to avoid a range of negative outcomes, including unplanned pregnancies and STIs.
	DfES is also supporting improved delivery of PSHE by providing continuing professional development (CPD) programmes for teachers and community nurses involved in delivering PSHE; developing guidance for schools to help them better assess what young people are learning in PSHE; and by making it a requirement that schools who achieve healthy school status must have an effective PSHE programme in place.

Special Educational Needs

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to support children with special educational needs, with particular reference to Gravesham.

Maria Eagle: Local authorities have important and extensive duties to identify, assess and make provision for children with special educational needs and to keep their arrangements for doing so under review. Schools, early education settings, local authorities and others must have regard to the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, which gives guidance on carrying out their statutory duties under the 1996 Education Act. Decisions about the support to be provided for children in Gravesham are a matter for the Kent local authority, taking account of their statutory duties. The Government have no direct role in this.
	More broadly, the national policy on SEN is set out in the Government's SEN strategy Removing Barriers to Achievement, published in February 2004. The strategy sets out a long-term programme to improve SEN provision and to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEN. As part of this strategy, the Department is promoting more consistent practice through a team of national SEN advisers. The advisers are working with all local authorities to provide support and challenge on key SEN issues, including the management of provision for children with special needs.

Special Educational Needs

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to ensure the recommendations in Removing Barriers to Achievement: The Government's Strategy for Special Educational Needs is fully implemented across the country; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Much progress has already been made on implementing the long-term programme of action set out within Removing Barriers to Achievement. A team of national advisers for Special Educational Needs (SEN) is working with local authorities across the country to take forward the action in the strategy. The advisers, together with the network of 11 SEN Regional Partnerships, will help to identify and disseminate effective practice in provision for children with SEN. The implementation of Removing Barriers to Achievement is an integral part of the Government's policies to improve outcomes for children with SEN and disabilities and their families.

Tuition Fees

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on the recent advertising campaign on tuition fees.

Bill Rammell: The Student Finance campaign is aimed at potential higher education students and their parents, in England only, to raise awareness and understanding of the new student finance arrangements that will come into force in September 2006. Although the campaign includes messages around the new fee arrangements its key focus remains to raise awareness of the fact that there is financial help available for all students in higher education. The cost of this advertising in 2005/06 will be around 2.5 million.
	All costs exclude VAT.

University Admissions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been budgeted for the consultation on post-qualification university applications.

Bill Rammell: To date, the modest costs of this consultation have comprised DfES staff time; and some expenditure associated with meetings of a consultation group and a stakeholders' conference amounting to just under 16,000. I expect any further costs associated with the conclusion of the consultation to fall within my Department's administration costs budgets.

University Student Placements

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the percentage of university students who undertook work experience and internships as part of their coursework in each of the last three school years.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is shown in the table. Figures for 2004/05 will be available in December 2005.
	
		UK domiciled undergraduates studying at English higher education institutions, on courses which involve work experience
		
			  2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 
		
		
			 Total number of undergraduates 1,204,040 1,512,770 1,548,315 
			 Of which:
			 Undertaking industrial placements(10) 20,920 21,905 22,230 
			 Percentage undertaking industrial placement 1.7 1.4 1.4 
			 Foundation degree(10) 2,715 10,025 19,375 
			 Percentage on foundation degree 0.2 0.8 1.5 
		
	
	(10) A small number of students (around 30) were recorded as being on foundation degrees and on an industrial placement.
	Notes:
	1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. Percentages have been rounded to 1 decimal place.
	2. Figures are on a whole year count basis, which counts students who are enrolled at any point in the academic year.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
	In addition to those undergraduates whose course contains a period of work experience or an industrial placement, all foundation degree courses involve an element of work-based learning as an integral part of the course.

Vocational Qualifications

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of 15-year-olds achieved one or more Part One General National Vocational Qualification at (a) Foundation and (b) Intermediate level in each year since 1995;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of 15-year-olds achieved one or more Full General National Vocational Qualification at (a) Foundation and (b) Intermediate level in each year since 1995.

Phil Hope: The information requested can be found in the following tables.
	
		GNVQ achievements of 15-year-old pupils(11) in all schools
		
			   Part 1 Intermediate GNVQ Part 1 Foundation GNVQ 
			  Number of 15-year-old pupils(11) (000) Number (000) Percentage Number (000) Percentage 
		
		
			 2005(12) 637.2 1.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 
			 2004 643.6 4.5 0.7 0.1 0.0 
			 2003 622.1 45.0 7.2 8.8 1.4 
			 2002 606.6 25.5 4.2 6.6 1.1 
			 2001 603.3 14.6 2.4 3.6 0.6 
			 2000 580.4 9.3 1.6 2.5 0.4 
			 1999 581.0 7.2 1.2 2.3 0.4 
			 1998 575.2 4.4 0.8 1.4 0.2 
			 1997 586.8 1.9 0.3 0.8 0.1 
		
	
	
		
			   Full Intermediate GNVQ Full Foundation GNVQ 
			  Number of 15-year-old pupils(11) (000) Number (000) Percentage Number (000) Percentage 
		
		
			 2005(12) 637.2 53.4 8.4 2.3 0.4 
			 2004 643.6 44.0 6.8 2.6 0.4 
			 2003 622.1 32.3 5.2 2.5 0.4 
			 2002 606.6 11.0 1.8 1.4 0.2 
			 2001 603.3 1.7 0.3 0.8 0.1 
			 2000 580.4 1.2 0.2 1.0 0.2 
			 1999 581.0 0.7 0.1 0.6 0.1 
			 1998 575.2 0.5 0.1 0.6 0.1 
			 1997 586.8 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.1 
		
	
	(11) Age at the beginning of the academic year (i.e. 31 August).
	(12) Figures for 2005 are provisional. All other figures are final.

HEALTH

Academic Medicine

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department will take steps to encourage the entry of (a) women and (b) people from minority ethnic groups into academic medicine.

Liam Byrne: Universities are expanding the number of opportunities for training in academic medicine. Entry to such training programmes is through fair and open competition in compliance with employment and European law.

Acute Care

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in Hertfordshire provide acute care; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: There are four hospitals in Hertfordshire which provide acute care. They are Hemel Hempstead Hospital, Watford General Hospital, the Lister Hospital, Stevenage and Queen Elizabeth II in Welwyn Garden City.

Alliance Medical

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what categories of patient are not able to gain access to scanning services provided in mobile units provided by Alliance Medical; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The mobile scanning service provided by Alliance Medical uses scanners that are the same size as fixed units and is fully accessible, with, for example, lift access for patients who are unable to use the steps.

Ambulance Service Restructuring

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the likely level of cost savings arising from the proposed restructuring of the Ambulance Service.

Liam Byrne: Taking Healthcare to the Patient: Transforming NHS Ambulance Services set out how the range and quality of services provided to patients by ambulance services could and should be improved. The report recommended fewer, larger trusts so that they would have the capacity to deliver the changes required.
	We expect efficiencies to be realised in management and administrative positions, headquarters and estates, and better use of resources, but it will be for the new trusts to calculate the level of efficiency savings to be made to offset transitional costs and to re-invest in local services for improving patient care.

Ambulance Service Restructuring

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the costs of re-organising the Ambulance Service in England.

Liam Byrne: The size of these costs cannot be accurately estimated until public consultation has concluded, the number and boundaries of the new trusts are known, and key decisions have been taken by the new trusts on operational management arrangements and associated staffing structures. The new trusts, if established, will be expected to minimise transitional costs, and actively pursue future efficiencies which will offset any transitional costs.

Barnsley District General Hospital

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the projected costs are of redundancies planned at the Barnsley district general hospital.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter for the chair of the Barnsley district general hospital national health service foundation trust. I have written to Gordon Firth informing him of my hon. Friend's inquiry. He will reply shortly and a letter will be placed in the Library.

Beef

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations her Department has made to the European Commission on removing the EU requirement to remove the vertebral column from cattle over 24 months in connection with the lifting of the export ban on beef over 30 months of age; and what assessment she has made of the impact that an extended beef-on-the-bone ban would have on (a) small beef producers and (b) butchers' shops concentrating on the production of high quality local food.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 31 October 2005
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) lobbied and argued strongly for a threshold of 30 months, as currently applies in the United Kingdom. The FSA had commissioned an independent risk assessment which concluded that removal of vertebral column at 12 months rather than 30 months would make a negligible difference in diminishing the bovine spongiform encephalopathy risk in the UK. This report was passed to the European Commission as evidence that it would be disproportionate to require removal at 24 months and to other member states as part of the lobbying process. There was insufficient support from other member states for a European Union threshold of 30 months and one of 24 months was adopted.
	Officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are currently leading a public consultation on lifting the export ban and harmonising specified risk material controls with those in other member states. A full assessment of the impact of requiring removal of vertebral column from cattle aged 24 to 30 months at slaughter will be completed at the end of the consultation, based on responses received and preliminary economic assessment work currently under way.

Body Mass Index

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it a requirement for general practitioners to ensure that the body mass index of each patient is regularly recorded as part of the new GP contract.

Liam Byrne: NHS Employers, on behalf of United Kingdom health Ministers, are responsible for reviewing the general medical service contract with the British Medical Association's general practitioners committee. Negotiators have confirmed some changes are likely to be made to the quality and outcomes framework from April 2006.

Brucella Viruses

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases involving humans becoming infected with the (a) brucella melitensis virus and (b) brucella suis virus have been reported to her Department in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The number of cases of Brucella melitensis and Brucella species infection diagnosed in humans diagnosed in England and Wales in the past five years is shown in the following table.
	
		Laboratory reports of brucella infection received by the Health Protection Agencyformerly the Public Health Laboratory Service
		
			  Brucella melitensis(13) Brucella species(14) 
		
		
			 2000 4 1 
			 2001 6 0 
			 2002 7 0 
			 2003 3 2 
			 2004 9 1 
		
	
	(13) All cases of Brucella Melitensis are either acquired abroad, or result from the consumption of imported products made with unpasteurised milk.
	(14) Brucella species identified by serology only.
	Note:
	No cases of Brucella suis have been reported in England and Wales since records began.

Brucella Viruses

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken to assess the level of infection by brucella viruses within the UK population; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Brucellosis is now a relatively rare human disease in England and Wales, following the successful campaign in the 1970s to eradicate Brucella abortus from cattle.
	Veterinary surgeons and farm workers are the occupational groups who are at greatest risk of acquiring brucellosis in the United Kingdom, because of their close contact with farm animals.
	A survey of farm workers in England was carried out between 1991 and 1996. A total of 404 farm workers were tested for brucellosis. Three, or 0.7 per cent. of them, all dairy farmers, had antibodies in their blood on enrolment into the study that indicated past infection with Brucella species 1 . All are likely to have acquired infection when the disease was more prevalent in cattle. All of them drank unpasteurised milk on their farms. No new infections were observed during the study.
	1 Reference: Thomas D Rh, Salmon RL. Zoonotic illness in farm workers and their families: clinical presentation and extent: a prospective collaborative study.
	1997; Health and Safety Executive Commissioned Research Project Number: l/HPD/126/308/90.

Brucella Viruses

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of brucellosis have been recorded by the NHS in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table.
	Brucellosis is now a relatively rare human disease in England, following the successful campaign in the 1970s to eradicate Brucella abortus from cattle.
	
		Count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with primary diagnosis brucellosis. Data for all national health service hospitals in England, data years 19992000 to 200004
		
			  FCEs 
		
		
			 19992000 10 
			 200001 15 
			 200102 7 
			 200203 12 
			 200304 19 
		
	
	Note:
	A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within a year.

Brucella Viruses

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken to ensure that testing for suspected cases of brucellosis can be carried out; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Doctors treating a febrile patient who lives in an overseas area or who has travelled to a country where brucellosis is endemic will be aware of the possibility of infection with brucella.
	A preliminary test is available for rapid screening, which is used in many laboratories.
	The brucella reference unit (BRU), which is based at University Hospital Aintree 1 , carries out laboratory tests to diagnose suspected cases of brucellosis. The BRU carries out tests that detect the presence of antibodies in serumthese tests can be used to confirm current or past infection, but cannot be used to determine the species that caused the infection.
	The statutory and exotic bacteria department of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency 2 carries out tests in which the organism is grown from samples of blood or and or bone marrow. These tests can determine which species of brucella is causing the infection. The Department also carries out biotyping of brucella strains, which helps to identify the possible source(s) of infection. This service is funded by the Health Protection Agency.
	1 Lower Lane, Liverpool L9 7AL
	2 Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB

Budget Deficits (Oxfordshire)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the deficit or surplus of each NHS trust in Oxfordshire was for 200405; what methodology was used to calculate the outturn; and what action she expects trusts to take to tackle deficits.

Caroline Flint: Audited information in respect of the 200405 financial position of all strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and national health service trusts was published in their individual annual accounts in September. We have no plans to publish un-audited information.
	The NHS is in receipt of record resources as a result of the Government's policy on funding in the NHS. Funding of the NHS has increased from 34.7 billion in 199798 to 69.7 billion in 200405. By 200708 spending on the NHS will have increased to over 92 billion. With this level of investment all NHS bodies should be able to plan for and achieve financial balance, each and every year.
	The Department has no plans to provide additional funding. Any recovery plans developed by the organisations must address the issue of deficits, and the making good of these in future years.

Cancelled Operations

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancelled operations there have been in each primary care trust in London in each quarter in the last four years.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not hold data by primary care trust. However, trust data are available on the following website at: www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/data_requests/cancelled_operations.htm.

Cervical Cancer

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list health trusts where liquid-based cytology (a) has been and (b) has not been introduced for testing of cervical smears in all areas in England; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Since the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published its appraisal of liquid based cytology (LBC) in October 2003, the following hospitals have introduced LBC for cervical screening:
	Royal Hallamshire Hospital (Sheffield)
	Royal Victoria Infirmary (Newcastle)
	North Tyneside District General
	Birmingham Women's Healthcare
	County Hospital Hereford
	The Royal London Hospital
	Northwick Park Hospital (Middlesex)
	Partnership Pathology ServicesGuildford
	Southmead Hospital (Bristol)
	Musgrove Park Hospital (Taunton)
	Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
	Addenbrookes Hospital (Cambridge)
	West Suffolk Hospital (Bury St. Edmunds)
	Royal Liverpool Hospital
	University Hospital Aintree
	Warrington Hospital
	Arrowe Park Hospital (Wirral)
	Whiston Hospital (Merseyside)
	Leighton Hospital (Crewe)
	Macclesfield District Hospital
	Countess of Chester Hospital
	Blackburn Royal Infirmary
	Burnley General Hospital
	Chorley and District Hospital
	Royal Lancaster Infirmary
	Southport General Infirmary
	Victoria Hospital (Blackpool)
	Birch Hill Hospital (Rochdale)
	Bury General Hospital
	Manchester Cytology Centre
	Royal Bolton Hospital
	Royal Oldham Hospital
	Stepping Hill Hospital (Stockport)
	Tameside General Hospital (Lancashire)
	The following hospitals plan to introduce LBC for cervical screening by March 2006:
	Scunthorpe General Hospital
	York District Hospital
	Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital (Grimsby)
	Doncaster Royal Infirmary
	Leeds Teaching Hospitals
	Calderdale Royal (Halifax)
	Kettering General Hospital
	Leicester Royal Infirmary
	Northampton General Hospital
	Chesterfield and North Derby Royal
	Derbyshire Royal Infirmary
	Kings Mill Hospital (Mansfield)
	Nottingham City Hospital
	Pilgrim Hospital (Boston)
	Lincoln County Hospital
	Good Hope Hospital (Sutton Coldfield)
	Princess Royal Trust (Telford)
	Chase Farm Hospital (Enfield)
	University College Hospital (London)
	Ealing Hospital
	Hammersmith Hospitals
	Queen Mary's Hospital (Sidcup)
	St. Thomas's Hospital (London)
	Kingston Hospital
	St. Hellier Hospital (Surrey)
	Darent Valley Hospital (Dartford)
	Medway Maritime
	Pembury Hospital (Tunbridge Wells)
	Preston Hall (Mid-Kent Healthcare)
	William Harvey Hospital (Ashford)
	Epsom General Hospital
	Cheltenham General Hospital
	Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
	Derriford Hospital (Plymouth)
	Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske)
	Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
	Torbay Hospital
	Source:
	NHS Cancer Screening Programmes

Congenital Heart Conditions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units dedicated to Grown-Up Congenital Heart patients there are in each NHS trust area; what plans she has to increase this number; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: There are 15 national health service trusts providing specialist services to adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease.
	There are no plans to increase the number of specialist units.
	The Government will be publishing a guide for commissioners later this year to assist the NHS with planning and commissioning to meet the needs of grown ups with congenital heart disease. The guide also sets out what patients should expect of services.

Correspondence

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Banbury of 13 September on community health.

Liam Byrne: My noble Friend, the Minister of State for National Health Service delivery responded to the hon. Member's letter on 17 October 2005.

Correspondence

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to improve the Department's performance in replying to correspondence from members of the public;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to improve the Department's performance in replying to hon. Members' correspondence.

Jane Kennedy: Every effort is made to handle all correspondence effectively and efficiently.
	All correspondence from hon. Members and Peers is handled in accordance with the principles set out in Handling Correspondence from Members of Parliament, Members of the House of Lords, MEPs and Members of Devolved Assemblies: Guidance for Departments. The same principles apply when handling correspondence from members of the public.
	Information relating to the performance of Departments in replying to hon. Members and Peers' correspondence is published on an annual basis. The report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 13740WS.
	The establishment of the customer service centre and the extra attention and resources directed to this important part of the Department's work have resulted in a considerable improvement both in the timeliness and in the quality of responses. Recent figures show that the Department is now one of the top performers in Government, with more than 90 per cent. of all letters from hon. Members and Peers answered within the Whitehall standard of 20 working days.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to lay before the House the (a) national health service (dental charges) regulations 2006, (b) national health service (general dental services contracts) regulations 2006 and (c) national health service (personal dental services arrangements) regulations 2006.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 31 October 2005
	We expect to lay all three sets of regulations before Parliament by the end of 2005.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to appoint a new chief dental officer; and what the recruitment process will be.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 31 October 2005
	The Department is currently considering the timetable for recruiting a new chief dental officer. The recruitment process will follow the usual Department procedures when recruiting externally. Barry Cockcroft, the deputy chief dental officer, is currently acting
	chief dental officer for England.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons new personal dental service (PDS) arrangements are being introduced under the draft new general dental services contract; and whether dentists applying for the previous PDS contract were informed that they would have to renegotiate it for a new one in 2006.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 31 October 2005
	The new personal dental services (PDS) agreements will be introduced under the proposed national health service (personal dental services agreements) regulations. Separate but similar regulations, the proposed national health service (general dental services contracts) regulations will govern general dental services.
	The new PDS regulations enable the current pilot PDS arrangements to be made permanent and a matter for local rather than national negotiation. They will also enable the proposed new three band system of patient charges to apply in PDS.
	Dentists previously entering PDS agreements were made aware that these were pilot agreements.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what a unit of dental activity refers to in the context of dental services contracts; and how this differs from the previous fee per item way of working for general dental practitioners.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 31 October 2005
	'Units of dental activity' refers to courses of treatment weighted into three bands to reflect their relative average complexity. Units of dental activity will make up the overall activity level required by an individual dental contractor in return for an agreed annual contract value, to be agreed between the dentist and the primary care trust.
	The proposed new banded dental charges system will provide the basis for monitoring activity under general dental service (GDS) contracts and personal dental service (PDS) agreements in terms of banded courses of treatment. Where a banded course of treatment is provided, the contractor will provide the number of units of dental activity set out in table 1. In the case of a charge exempt course of treatment, the contractor will provide the number of units of dental activity specified in table 2.
	
		Table 1: Units of dental activity provided under the contract in respect of banded courses of treatment
		
			 Type of course of treatment Units of dental activity provided 
		
		
			 Band 1 course of treatment (excluding urgent treatment) 1.0 
			 Band 1 course of treatment (urgent treatment only) 1.2 
			 Band 2 course of treatment 3.0 
			 Band 3 course of treatment 12.0 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Units of dental activity provided under the contract in respect of charge exempt courses of treatment
		
			 Type of charge exempt course of treatment Units of dental activity provided 
		
		
			 Issue of a prescription 0.75 
			 Repair of a dental appliance (denture) 1.0 
			 Repair of a dental appliance (bridge) 1.2 
			 Removal of sutures 1.0 
			 Arrest of bleeding 1.2 
		
	
	The new system will differ from the current fee per item system, where dentists' remuneration is based on each individual treatmenta filling, a crown, etc. The evidence of PDS pilots, where remuneration is not based on fee per item, is that dentists provide fewer and simpler interventions within each course of treatment. This allows dentists to spend more time with patients, adopt a more preventive approach to patient care and better manage their work load.

Dentistry

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to increase the number of dentists offering root canal and other specialist treatment on the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: National health service dentists are able to undertake root canal treatment under existing regulations and will continue to be able to provide the treatment under the new contractual arrangements from 1 April 2006.
	In May 2004, we announced proposals for implementing a scheme for dentists with special interests initially in minor oral surgery, orthodontics, endodontics and periodontics. Under this scheme, which will shortly be finalised, primary care trusts will be able to contract with dentists who have acquired skills in these specialised areas. This should provide a basis for increasing the availability of specialist treatment in a primary care setting.

Departmental Estate

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which parts of her Department's estate will not be covered by the commitments set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

Caroline Flint: The requirements of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate cover all departmental buildings. However, in line with guidance provided as part of the framework, activity is focused on principal buildings where the Department has control of facilities.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training in (a) literacy and (b) numeracy is offered to employees of her Department.

Jane Kennedy: An online assessment tool has been provided for staff to assess their literacy and numeracy skills and needs. The Department's intranet offers guidance on ways to improve basic skills and the open learning centre provides materials on grammar, punctuation, spelling and working with numbers. The Department also provides day release for all staff studying to improve their basic skills.

Departmental Vehicles

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reduction there has been in (a) road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and (b) single occupancy car commuting from her Department against a baseline year of (i) 200304 and (ii) 200405.

Caroline Flint: The Department uses a number of options for the provision of vehicles, which are not administered by the Department directly. We therefore currently have no direct information on carbon dioxide emissions. However, a programme to install video conferencing facilities in many of the Department's buildings has reduced the need for official travel.
	We do not have any means of calculating single occupancy commuting. However, we have gradually reduced the number of car parking spaces available in staff car parks, in many instances replacing them with cycle racks. We are also investigating the possibility of introducing a car sharing scheme in our Leeds office.

Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 which (a) have been and (b) have not been implemented.

Liam Byrne: The years since 1986 have seen various initiatives and policy developments to advocacy and it is not clear that the 1986 Act as drafted would provide the best framework for advocacy services. For example, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 creates a new safeguard, the independent mental capacity advocate service. This will give extra protection to the most vulnerable people who lack capacity.
	In March 2005, a review by the National Director of Learning Disabilities showed that there have been improvements in self-advocacy for people with learning disabilities and more councils are giving money to self-advocacy.

European Medicines Evaluation Agency

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of time taken by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency was to approve a cancer drug for formal marketing approval is in the last year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The European Medicines Agency publishes procedural details for each new product authorised through the Centralised procedure and approved for marketing by the European Commission.
	For anti-cancer drugs, figures are available for the most recent full year period from January 2004 to January 2005. These show an average time of 122 days from start of the approval procedure to the preliminary opinion of the scientific committee. This is then followed by an average of 70 days for the scientific committee to evaluate any additional data needed and agree a positive opinion on the application. The final administrative steps prior to the issue of the European Commission's marketing authorisation have taken on average 91 days. These steps include the opportunity for Member States to make observations on the draft decision of the commission.
	A revised European Regulation coming into force in November 2005 now requires considerably shorter times for these final administrative steps. This was one of the responses by the European Parliament to criticisms raised during the review of medicines legislation in Europe.

Foundation Hospitals

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether any foundation hospitals are in Hertfordshire;
	(2)  whether she plans to make Hemel Hempstead Hospital a foundation hospital; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: There are no national health service foundation trusts in Hertfordshire. However, Bedford Hospital NHS trust is currently applying for foundation status. Subject to receiving the Secretary of State's support, Bedford Trust will be able to make an application to Monitor, the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts, for consideration for authorisation next year.
	Hemel Hempstead Hospital is part of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS trust which is a one star organisation and therefore has not been invited to apply for foundation status. We are committed to ensuring that all trusts should have the opportunity to apply for foundation status and are engaged with Monitor and strategic health authorities on a diagnostic programme to determine the state of readiness of all NHS acute trusts for foundation status.

Foundation Hospitals

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the administration costs of maintaining foundation status (a) in total for the NHS in England and (b) for each foundation trust.

Liam Byrne: Neither the Department nor Monitor, the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of national health service foundation trusts, hold this information. Administrative costs will vary between NHS foundation trusts. The accounts of the 31 NHS foundation trusts authorised in 200405 were laid before Parliament in July 2005, copies of which are available in the Library.

General Medical Services Contract

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the outcome of the review of the quality and outcomes framework of the general medical services contract will be announced; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 31 October 2005
	NHS Employers, on behalf of United Kingdom health Ministers, is currently discussing with the British Medical Association's general practitioners committee revisions to the existing general medical services contract, from April 2006 including changes to the quality and outcomes framework from April 2006. As part of this, an expert panel was engaged by NHS Employers to consider independently the evidence for any new clinical indicator within the quality and outcomes framework. That advice is informing negotiations. An announcement on changes to the current contract that will apply from April 2006 will be made at the end of the negotiating process, and once approved by the respective UK health Ministers. This is intended to be later in the year.

Health Improvement and Protection Bill

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the Health Improvement and Protection Bill.

Caroline Flint: The Health Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 27 October 2005. The Bill was published on the same day.

Health Improvement and Protection Bill

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date her response to the consultation on the smoke free elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill will be published.

Caroline Flint: We intend to publish a summary of the responses to the consultation on the smoke free elements of the Health Bill shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library.

Hepatitis C

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is planning to maximise detection of hepatitis C within the population.

Caroline Flint: The hepatitis C action plan for England, July 2004, sets out a framework of key actions to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C. It highlights the need to raise awareness of hepatitis C in order to increase diagnosis.
	As part of implementation of the action plan, the Department launched hepatitis C awareness campaigns for health care professionals and the public in 2004. These campaigns have so far included:
	the distribution of a hepatitis C information pack to all general practitioners and practice nurses and other key health care professionals in England, which includes guidance on hepatitis C testing;
	a new national health service hepatitis C awareness websitewww.hepc.nhs.uk;
	a new national hepatitis C freephone information line (0800 451451);
	features in health care professional journals, regional/national newspapers and consumer magazines;
	an innovative photography exhibition of portraits of people with hepatitis C which is touring regional cities using local patient case studies; and
	a health promotion resource for young offenders which will be launched in November 2005.
	The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse have introduced from 1 April 2005 a system for monitoring the frequency of hepatitis C testing of injecting drug users receiving drug treatment.

Herceptin

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with countries which have already approved Herceptin on the effectiveness of the drug against early stage breast cancer.

Rosie Winterton: Contact is being made by officials with Slovenia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, the United States of America and Canada to investigate the position of those countries on the prescribing of Herceptin.

Herceptin

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of meetings with the National Cancer Director Professor and the medical directors of NHS cancer networks with regard to offering HER2 testing for the suitability of Herceptin to all women diagnosed with early breast cancer.

Rosie Winterton: The outcome of the meeting between Professor Mike Richards and medical directors of national health service cancer networks was that each of the 34 cancer networks would submit action plans to the Department by 4 November 2005 on how they will implement HER2 testing.

Herceptin

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost per patient is (a) of using Herceptin for the treatment of breast cancer and (b) of the treatment of the recurrence of HER2 breast cancer.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of Herceptin for the treatment of breast cancer is estimated to be around 20,000 per patient per year. Estimates of the cost of the treatment of the recurrence of HER2 breast cancer are not available due to the complexity of treating advanced disease and the different treatment options available.

Herceptin

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of patients who would benefit from the use of Herceptin.

Rosie Winterton: It is estimated that around 5,000 women a year who are diagnosed with early stage breast cancer will be HER2 positive and therefore suitable for treatment with Herceptin.

Influenza Pandemic

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the role of the reserve forces in a pandemic.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no specific pre-planned role for the armed forces in the event of a pandemic. In any urgent and extreme circumstances we would consider requests for the provision of military aid to the civil authorities, submitted in the normal way, which could be provided by drawing on regular or reserve personnel.

Intensive Care Beds

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care beds were available on average in the last period for which figures are available; and what the average occupancy rates were.

Liam Byrne: The latest data available is for 200405. On average, there were 5,223 beds available in wards classified as intensive care in England. The occupancy rate was 78.2 per cent.

Intensive Therapy

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in Hertfordshire have intensive therapy unit facilities; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: There are two national health service trusts in Hertfordshire, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, that provide beds in wards classified as intensive care: neonates, intensive care: paediatrics or intensive care: wholly or mainly adult in 200405. There are no data available at hospital level. Data are not available on an intensive care units basis.

Intermediate Care

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intermediate care (a) beds and (b) supported places there are in England; how many older people have used them in each year since 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the data collected centrally, which do not distinguish by age of service user.
	
		
			  Number of places in non-residential intermediate care schemes Number of intermediate care beds Number of people using intermediate care 
		
		
			 200203 19,078 7,493 284,365 
			 200304 17,339 8,697 333,821 
			 200405 20,558 8,928 362,664 
		
	
	Source:
	Statistical summary to the chief executive's report to the national health service13 May 2005.

Intermediate Care

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intermediate care beds will be funded from the 66 million allocated for 200203 and 200304 in each strategic health authority; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Numbers of intermediate care beds and places
		
			  200203 200304 200405 
			 Strategic health authority Intermediate care beds Places in non-residential intermediate care schemes Intermediate care beds Places in non-residential intermediate care schemes Intermediate care beds Places in non-residential intermediate care schemes 
		
		
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 408 1,113 358 829 333 788 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 188 416 254 612 260 972 
			 Essex 264 2,494 376 1,007 367 714 
			 North West London 141 545 92 546 108 919 
			 North Central London 308 169 296 846 296 1,033 
			 North East London 117 351 107 381 140 693 
			 South East London 121 392 179 346 179 274 
			 South West London 142 179 192 197 191 247 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 251 759 222 665 222 625 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 47 339 59 455 62 547 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 119 914 136 466 170 723 
			 West Yorkshire 260 1,478 333 644 334 1,214 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 126 601 174 561 127 526 
			 Greater Manchester 429 675 498 765 477 849 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 263 231 328 377 343 436 
			 Thames Valley 260 439 297 471 332 499 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 510 429 533 469 559 525 
			 Kent and Medway 310 678 397 625 450 880 
			 Surrey and Sussex 387 2,305 676 1,414 745 1,715 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 463 978 423 1,486 328 2,207 
			 South West Peninsula 157 583 237 486 249 476 
			 Somerset and Dorset 246 757 278 1,154 272 961 
			 South Yorkshire 404 831 439 793 423 812 
			 Trent 569 431 616 438 577 439 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 252 223 322 344 419 532 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 97 132 100 188 148 248 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 380 480 402 531 411 353 
			 West Midlands, South 275 155 373 244 407 351 
			 Total England 7,493 19,078 8,697 17,339 8,928 20,558 
		
	
	Source:
	Local delivery plan return, fourth quarter in each year.

Junior Doctors

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to effect the transition between the present career structure for junior doctors and the changes outlined in Modernising Medical Careers;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the implications for the career prospects of junior doctors of her proposal to phase out senior house officer posts in the national health service.

Liam Byrne: All aspects of the implementation of modernising medical careers (MMC) are governed through the following structures.
	The MMC United Kingdom strategy group, attended by the four UK chief medical officers, sets the strategic direction. Implementation in England is managed through the MMC programme delivery board. Input from a wide range of stakeholders is obtained through the MMC UK advisory board. There is also close working with individual stakeholders to manage different aspects of the process.
	These bodies are currently developing and assessing the structure of specialist and general practitioner training, following the introduction of foundation programmes in August this year. Their work encompasses career structures and career prospects for junior doctors. Current senior house officers will not be disadvantaged in the new training system and MMC will be working closely with the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board and Medical Royal Colleges to ensure that all are treated fairly.

Lupus

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated for research into (a) systemic lupus and (b) discoid lupus in 200506; and what steps are being taken to increase awareness of these conditions among medical professionals.

Liam Byrne: It is not possible to provide data on research funding for lupus in 200506.
	The main part of the Department's expenditure on health research is allocated to, and managed by, national health service organisations. Details of individual projects supported in the NHS, including a significant number concerned with lupus, are to be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research. The Medical Research Council (MRC), an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology, also funds medical research.
	We intend that the musculoskeletal framework, a best practice guide to supporting people with musculoskeletal conditions, will be published later this year. This publication will do much to raise awareness amongst health professionals and the general public for all musculoskeletal conditions, including lupus.

Medical Staff (Training Costs)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of training each (a) doctor, (b) nurse and (c) physiotherapist for the entire period between entering onto a degree or diploma course until full registration, inclusive of tuition, bursary and salary support costs in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: Information for England on the average cost of training each nurse and physiotherapist for the entire period between entering onto a degree or diploma course until full registration, inclusive of tuition, bursary and salary support costs is shown in the table.
	
		Average cost of training for each nurse and physiotherapist, 200405
		
			 Staff group 200405 cost () 
		
		
			 Nurse Diploma (bursaried) 39,290 
			 Nurse Degree (bursaried) 27,390 
			 Nurse Secondee (salaried) 59,760 
			 Physiotherapist 28,580 
		
	
	Source:
	Financial and Workforce Information Return (FWIR) November 2004 and NHS Student Grant Unit for Nurse and Physiotherapists
	In the period between entry to medical school and full registration, it is estimated that training a doctor costs between 200,000 and 250,000. Doctors generally continue training after full registration. As the duration and nature of post-registration training varies greatly and as service and training costs are closely related it is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the total cost of training.

Medical Staff (Numbers)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were per head of population in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority in each year since 1995.

Liam Byrne: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Mental Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) objectives, (b) budget, (c) locations and (d) evaluation methodology are for the independent mental capacity advocate pilots.

Liam Byrne: The objectives of the Independent Mental Capacity Act (IMCA) pilots are to test how this new service will work, in advance of it becoming a national requirement in April 2007. The pilot will test different ways of setting up this servicefor example with full time IMCA advocates and with sessional advocates. It will test referral systems, systems for recording and systems for monitoring. The outcome will be good practice guidance which will be useful both for the commissioners of this service when it becomes a national requirement and also for the future IMCA advocacy providers, many of whom may be small and will benefit from the good practice guide.
	The budget for the pilots is 500,000. Pilots will take place in Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Croydon, Dorset, Hertfordshire, Merseyside, Newcastle, and Southwark. An evaluation will be by an external researcher who will work with the advocacy organisations to develop protocols such as monitoring systems and reflective diaries.

National School Fruit Scheme

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of fruit supplied to schools under the National School Fruit Scheme was sourced from (a) suppliers within 25 miles of the school supplied, (b) national suppliers and (c) overseas suppliers in the period September 2004 to September 2005.

Caroline Flint: There are currently 15 United Kingdom based suppliers that supply eight different types of fruit and vegetables across the country. No overseas suppliers are participating in the school fruit and vegetable scheme.
	We do not collect information about the distance of suppliers in relation to the schools they supply.

National School Fruit Scheme

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schools are participating in the National School Fruit Scheme; and how many deliveries are made per week to these schools.

Caroline Flint: As at 14 October 2005, 16,413 schools across England were participating in the school fruit and vegetable scheme.
	Although some distributors involved in the scheme make a delivery three times a week, the most common arrangement is a delivery every other school day, which equates to five deliveries per fortnight.

NHS Employees

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees aged over 70 years are working in the national health service.

Liam Byrne: At 30 September 2004, 834 national health service staff working in England were aged 70 and over.

NHS Finance

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the financial position of NHS trusts in Brighton and West Sussex.

Caroline Flint: The latest available data on the financial position of national health service trusts are for 200405. The table shows the 200405 financial position reported by NHS trusts in Brighton and West Sussex.
	
		
			 Organisation 200405 deficit/surplus (000) 
		
		
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust -10,035 
			 The Royal West Sussex NHS Trust -15,483 
			 South Downs Health NHS Trust 69 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust -30,657 
			 Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust 298 
			 West Sussex Health and Social Care NHS Trust 34 
			 Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 51 
		
	
	Source:
	200405 summarisation schedules.
	The strategic health authority continues to work closely with NHS organisations in Brighton and West Sussex to achieve the year-end position agreed with the Department.

NHS Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest aggregate (a) year-to-date and (b) forecast year-end financial positions are of all NHS organisations in England which have been received from strategic health authorities by her Department.

Liam Byrne: The latest year for which audited financial information is available is 200405. The information requested has been placed in the Library. It is also available on the Department's website.
	The Department does not publish unaudited information on the financial position of national health service organisations.

NHS Finance

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her latest estimate is of the outturn against planned expenditure for 200506 of (a) the Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust and (b) Northamptonshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust.

Liam Byrne: The latest data available on the financial position of national health service organisations (strategic health authority, primary care trust and NHS trusts) are for 200405.
	The 200405 financial position for Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust showed they had a deficit of 1.7 million and the 200405 financial position for Northamptonshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust showed they had a surplus of 183,000.

NHS Pension Scheme

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women doctors contributed to the NHS pension scheme between 1972 and 1988; and what contributions were made by (a) men and (b) women to the scheme between those dates, expressed as a percentage of salary.

Liam Byrne: Data on women doctors who contributed to the national health service pension scheme between 1972 and 1988 are not held in the format requested.
	The contribution rate for all doctors, male and female is the same at 6 per cent. of NHS pensionable pay.

NHS Pension Scheme

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the spouses of male and female members of the NHS pension scheme, both contributing the same amounts to the scheme between 1972 and 1988, are entitled to the same pension following the death of their spouse.

Liam Byrne: The spouses of male and female members of the national health service pension scheme are entitled to the same initial pension for three months and up to six months following the death of their spouse. Thereafter a widow is entitled to a pension equal to one half of her husband's pension based on his total scheme membership; a widower is entitled to a pension equal to one half of his wife's scheme membership from 6 April 1988.

NHS Professionals

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of NHS Professionals; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: NHS Professionals is playing a useful part in securing the appropriate and effective use of temporary staff and reducing national health service expenditure on private agency staff. A recent independent report recorded that agency spending fell for the first time in recent memory in 200304.

Obesity

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish proposals submitted for new obesity indicators by her Department to the quality and outcomes framework review.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Charlotte Atkins) today.

Pressure Sores

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the NHS of pressure sores.

Liam Byrne: From the information held centrally, it is not possible to separately identify the costs, in hospitals and all other settings where the national health service cares for patients, of treating pressure sores.

Private Finance Initiative

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts are in deficit; and how many of these deficits are due to annual private finance initiative charges.

Liam Byrne: Data from the summarised final accounts for 200405 show that of the 66 national health service trusts that had a financial deficit, only nine have an operational private finance initiative scheme.

Psychiatric Trainees

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of psychiatric trainees undergoing psychotherapy training in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The information requested for England at 30 September each year is shown in the following table.
	
		Full-time equivalents
		
			  Doctors in training 
			  Psychiatry group total Psychotherapy 
		
		
			 2000 2,824 42 
			 2001 2,801 42 
			 2002 2,918 45 
			 2003 3,017 36 
			 2004 3,470 47 
		
	
	Source:
	National health service Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental work force census.
	In order to obtain a psychiatry group specialist registrar post, all candidates must have undertaken some training in psychotherapy.
	As at March 2005, the number of consultant psychotherapists was 112 and as at September 2004, the number of other qualified psychotherapy staff was 723.

Residential Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how frequently the needs of residents in (a) residential and (b) nursing homes are assessed; and how such assessments are triggered.

Liam Byrne: The Care Homes Regulations 2001, Section 14 (2) of the regulations, requires the registered provider to ensure that assessment needs of residents in residential and nursing homes are kept under review and revised at any time when it is necessary to do so, having regard to any change in circumstances.

Self-funded Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how a person who is self-funding their care is able to obtain (a) a care plan and (b) regular reviews of their (i) health and (ii) social care needs.

Liam Byrne: An individual's financial circumstances should have no bearing on whether or not a council carries out an assessment of their need for community care services. Once an individual's care needs have been assessed and a decision made about the care, if any, to be provided, an assessment of their ability to pay charges up to the full cost of that care should be carried out.
	Where a local authority is providing care services, whether paid for or not, guidance requires the person's need for those services to be kept under review.
	Where a person has made their own arrangements to be in a care home or receive personal care from a domiciliary care agency regulations require the person registered in respect of the care home or agency to prepare a written plan of the service user's needs and to keep it under review.
	National health service nursing care is provided free in all settings.

Smoking

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she plans to prohibit smoking in secure mental health units; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Health Bill was published on Thursday 27 October 2005 and contains proposals for smoke free enclosed public places and workplaces. Smoking will end in enclosed public places and workplaces from the summer of 2007 with some exemptions which would include some mental health establishments.
	This is in line with the commitment in the Choosing Health White Paper for the national health service to be completely smoke free by the end of 2006 in which we recognise that in some cases, such as mental hospitals where for some patients the hospital may be their main place of residence and therefore their home, this may not be achievable.

Strokes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that national effective protocols and training are in place for (a) ambulance staff and (b) staff in accident and emergency departments to ensure that they can identify patients who have had a stroke and refer them for the most effective treatment.

Liam Byrne: Standard five of the national service framework for older people provides a programme of action to ensure that those who have had a stroke have prompt access to integrated stroke care services. As part of this, it sets out the importance of making a rapid diagnosis in improving patient outcomes.
	All United Kingdom ambulance services currently use National clinical guidelines developed by the joint Royal Colleges ambulance liaison committee (JRCALC), that include the recognition, assessment and management of stroke /cerebral bleeds.
	Many PCTs have agreed local arrangements with ambulance services, which ensure that once an ambulance crew has made the diagnosis of stroke, the patient is transferred directly into an acute stroke unit. The joint ASA/JRCALC clinical effectiveness committee published the ACT NOW expert report on 'joined-up' stroke services in June 2004. The report shares best practice in acute stroke management within emergency medical services and relevant hospital departments and gives examples of pathways to optimise co-ordination between disciplines. The Department's stroke strategy group will be looking at ways to share best practice guidance to encourage more trusts to adopt this approach where appropriate.

Strokes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that anyone suffering a transient ischaemic attack should see a stroke specialist within seven days.

Liam Byrne: Standard five of the national service framework (NSF) for older people, published in March 2001, provides a programme of actions to reduce the incidence of transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and stroke in the population and ensure that those who have had a TIA or stroke have prompt access to integrated stroke care services. More patients are being seen by stroke specialists and stroke mortality is declining.
	The quality and outcomes framework incentivises general practitioners through their contract payments to refer patients with a suspected TIA or stroke for a computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan.

Strokes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that all stroke patients receive a brain scan within 48 hours of having a stroke.

Liam Byrne: Standard five of the national service framework (NSF) for older people, published in March 2001, provides a programme of actions to reduce the incidence of stroke in the population and ensure that those who have had a stroke have prompt access to integrated stroke care services. More patients are being seen by stroke specialists and stroke mortality is declining.
	Included within standard five is a guideline stating that,
	immediate management to improve chances of survival and minimise the risk of complications should include a brain scan within 48 hours.
	The Department is currently working up a framework to ensure scanning services can be deployed quickly and appropriately.

Suicide

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to reduce the rate of suicide amongst people over the age of 75;
	(2)  what funding was allocated to work aimed at prevention of suicide in older people in the last year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The 2004 suicide prevention strategy annual report of progress sets out the actions that are underway to reduce the number of suicides in the general population, including older people. Although there are no specific actions targeting people 75-years or over, many of the measures in place will help prevent suicides amongst all age groups. Consequently, it is not possible to specify the amount of funding allocated to the prevention of suicide in older people.
	The our healthier nation target is to reduce the overall death rate from suicide and undetermined injury from a baseline rate of 9.2 deaths per 100,000 population in 199597 to 7.3 deaths per 100,000 population in 200911. The latest available data for the three years 20024 show a rate of 8.6 deaths per 100,000 population; a reduction of 6.6 percent., from the baseline. The latest data for older people, 65 and over, show that this rate has fallen from a baseline rate of 10.0 deaths per 100,000 population to 9.0 deaths, a fall of 9.7 percent., over the period. For the 75 and over age group, the rate has fallen from a baseline rate of 11.5 deaths per 100,000 population to 10.3 deaths, a fall of 11.2 percent., over the period.

Sunflower Oil

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has evaluated on the health impact of the use of high oleic sunflower oil for frying potato crisps.

Caroline Flint: The health impact of high oleic sunflower oil for frying potato crisps has not been specifically evaluated. The Food Standards Agency is currently funding a large intervention study investigating the impact of replacing saturated fat with different amounts of monounsaturated fat, such as oleic acid in sunflower oil, on cardiovascular disease risk. Results from this study will be available in January 2008.

Technology Appraisal

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on proposals submitted to the Department in September by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in relation to developing a more rapid process for the appraisal of technologies.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 October 2005
	I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made today.

Tonsil/Adenoid Removals

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many children aged under 16 years in each strategic health authority area were discharged from hospital after removal of tonsils or adenoids in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what the discharge rate was per 10,000 children aged under 16 years in each strategic health authority area;
	(2)  how many children aged under 16 years in each strategic health authority area had an operation to remove tonsils or adenoids without parental knowledge or consent in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the number of children aged under 16 years who were discharged from national health service hospitals in England following tonsil and/or adenoid operations and the discharge rates per 10,000 children aged under 16 years, by residence in each strategic health authority (SHA) during 200304.
	Information on parental knowledge, or consent for these procedures is not collected centrally.
	
		Tonsil and adenoid operations and discharge rates per 10,000 children aged under 16 years, by residence in each SHA: 200304
		
			 SHA of residence In-year discharge episodes Rates per 10,000:0 15 years population 
		
		
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 1,491 35.6 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 1,563 46.6 
			 Essex 1,816 56.2 
			 North West London 1,085 32.8 
			 North Central London 905 38.8 
			 North East London 1,406 42.2 
			 South East London 1,226 40.9 
			 South West London 888 35.9 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 1,033 40.3 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 870 38.9 
			 North and East Yorkshire and  Northern Lincolnshire 1,256 40.4 
			 West Yorkshire 2,312 53.5 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 1,689 44.9 
			 Greater Manchester 3,028 58.9 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 1,814 39.5 
			 Thames Valley 1,553 36.1 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 1,148 33.6 
			 Kent and Medway 1,661 50.8 
			 Surrey and Sussex 2,088 43.1 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 1,437 33.9 
			 South West Peninsula 1,338 46.4 
			 Dorset and Somerset 695 31.7 
			 South Yorkshire 1,020 41.2 
			 Trent 2,050 40.4 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and  Rutland 1,546 48.4 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 1,500 51.9 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 2,064 42.5 
			 West Midlands, South 819 27.5 
		
	
	Sources:
	Hospital episode statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre.
	Count of in-year discharge episodes: all operations count of episodes, tonsil and adenoid operations (OPCS-4= E20 and F34). Age at start of episode= under 16: NHS hospitals in England, 200304. Population data: 2001 census-based resident population estimates for 2004.

West Suffolk NHS Hospital Trust

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial outturn was at West Suffolk NHS hospital trust (a) at its inception and (b) in every year since its inception.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table. Information relating to the years prior to 199798 is not available.
	
		West Suffolk hospitals national health service trust, retained surplus/(deficit) for the year -- 000
		
			  Retained surplus/(deficit) 
		
		
			 199798 (32) 
			 199899 28 
			 19992000 (286) 
			 200001 290 
			 200102 (936) 
			 200203 947 
			 200304 (2,501) 
			 200405 (7.638) 
		
	
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust.

West Suffolk NHS Hospital Trust

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the debt inherited by Suffolk West primary care trust was at its inception; and what the financial outturn has been in every year since.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Suffolk West primary care trust, under/(over)spend against revenue resource limit
		
			  Spend (000) 
		
		
			 200203 (1,581) 
			 200304 (4,423) 
			 200405 (12,510) 
		
	
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the Suffolk West Primary Care Trust.

West Sussex Primary Care Trusts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what savings she anticipates if the proposed merger of the five West Sussex primary care trusts proceeds.

Caroline Flint: The national health service will save 250 million in the cost of management and administration by 2008. The 250 million savings will be re-invested in front-line NHS services. Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trusts (PCTs) will be contributing 13 million towards the 250 million national savings.
	Nationally, savings will be achieved largely through SHA and PCT reconfiguration. Reconfiguration proposals are developed locally by SHAs and PCTs and these will be subject to public consultation over the coming months. The precise contribution of PCTs to the 13 million Surrey and Sussex savings plan will be determined by the SHA and the PCTs once reconfiguration proposals are agreed in the new year.

CABINET OFFICE

Carbon Management Programme

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department will sign up to the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management programme.

Jim Murphy: The Cabinet Office is committed to reducing carbon emissions where practical and is currently working with the Carbon Trust to potentially improve its energy management practices and identify likely areas for potential energy savings.
	Once this work has been completed, the Cabinet Office will consider signing up to the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management programme.

Departmental Skills Development Plan

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Skills Development plan.

Jim Murphy: A copy of the Cabinet Office Skills Development plan will be placed in the Library today.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what methods of assessment of (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills are used as part of the recruitment process by employees of his Department.

Jim Murphy: The Cabinet Office competence based recruitment system is designed to identify candidates with the most suitable skills and competences for the job. Candidates are asked, on their application form and at interview to give evidence of their ability to communicate effectively. Candidates are assessed on their ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and where necessary asked to provide evidence of their numeracy levels. There is also scope, within the selection system, for further testing of candidate's communication and numerical skills through verbal and numerical reasoning tests. Specifically, the Department has used the SHL VCC3 verbal evaluation test and the SHL NCC4 numerical evaluation test.

Strategy Unit

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what each of the phases is of the Strategy Unit's Health Strategy, Analytical Report; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The Analytical Report was phase one. It assessed health outcomes in the United Kingdom, trends and drivers of future demand and issues relating to health care capacity. The report was submitted as a contribution to debate across Government and are available on the Strategy Unit website (www.strategy.gov.uk).

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Debt Arrears

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many charging orders relating to unsecured debt were made in each month since 1990, broken down by region; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Skills Development Plan

Nick Gibb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's Skills Development Plan.

Bridget Prentice: Copies of the Departmental Skills Development Plan 200409 and the 2005 update to the plan have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of new recruits to her Department do not have a level 2 qualification in English and mathematics.

Bridget Prentice: My Department does not collect statistical data on the number of new recruits with level 2 qualifications.
	General recruitment asks for administration experience or the relevant qualifications (ie five GCSE's or equivalent at grade C or above including English language) for administrative grades or two A-levels (and English language for executive grades.
	Recruits can therefore be appointed on the basis of their experience or qualifications and no distinction is made between the two.

Literacy and Numeracy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what methods of assessment of (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills are used as part of the recruitment process by employees of her Department.

Bridget Prentice: My Department carries out no formal assessment of literacy and numerical skills for new recruits below senior civil service level.
	General recruitment asks for administration experience or the relevant qualifications (ie five GCSE's or equivalent at grade C or above including English language) for administration grades or two A-levels (and English language) for executive grades. Certain posts at executive grade and above involve written or IT tests for posts in a policy area, communications or IT.
	All appointees to senior civil service posts in the Department will have attended a full-day assessment centre prior to their panel interview. The assessment centre includes a written exercise in which candidates are given a mixture of word-based evidence and numerical data to analyse and evaluate. This exercise is assessed in relation to a candidate's ability to build a constructive argument from the data provided.

Legal Aid

Iris Robinson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to review the legal aid process; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Legal aid in Northern Ireland is currently the subject of a significant reform programme following the enactment of the Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. The Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission has succeeded the Law Society of Northern Ireland as the body responsible for operating the Legal Aid Scheme. The Commission is responsible for providing publicly funded legal services on a basis which will ensure that limited public funds are targeted at meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in society.

Legal Aid

Michael Penning: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many solicitors carry out legal aid work in the constituency of Hemel Hempstead; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: There are currently seven solicitor firms with offices located in Hemel Hempstead that presently hold a legal aid contract with the Legal Services Commission to carry out a variety of publicly funded work. The Commission does not hold information about the number of solicitors employed in each office. Solicitors located in other areas may regularly undertake legal aid work in Hemel Hempstead, for example providing advice at police stations.

Legal Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if the Government will allocate funds separately for civil legal aid and criminal legal aid.

Bridget Prentice: My Department allocates a single budget to the Legal Services Commission. However, Section 5(2) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 places a duty on the Lord Chancellor to notify Parliament of the sums he determines are appropriate for the funding of services provided by the Community Legal Service (CLS). No such provisions apply for funding the Criminal Defence Service (CDS).

Legal Aid

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total cost of legal aid has been in each year since 200304.

Bridget Prentice: Expenditure on legal aid in England and Wales during 200304 and 200405 was 2,077 million and 2,037 million respectively.

Media Relations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much the Department has spent on external media relations in each month of the last year.

Bridget Prentice: The Department spent 5,670 on external media relations in each month of the last year.

Parliamentary Deposits

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the effect of its proposals to lower the threshold for losing deposits in parliamentary elections on the ability of extremist political parties to nominate candidates.

Harriet Harman: The Government's assessment of the Electoral Commission's recommendation to lower the threshold for losing deposits in parliamentary elections is that it would be expected to result in encouraging more independent candidates and smaller parties to engage in the political process. Maintaining the current subscriber system, coupled with the 500 deposit, will ensure that those who seek to bring the democratic system into disrepute by standing as frivolous candidates or for commercial gain will be deterred.

Royal Prerogative

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 165W, on the Royal Prerogative, whether the Prime Minister is made aware that he is exercising a power under the Royal Prerogative at the time he exercises it.

Harriet Harman: Ministers take decisions under the authority of the powers available to them and under the rule of law.

Salisbury Courts Centre

Robert Key: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the in-service date is for the new courts centre in Salisbury.

Harriet Harman: The current programme under the new court in Salisbury will be ready for use in spring 2008.

Salisbury Courts Centre

Lynne Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) outstanding asylum appeals, (b) outstanding immigration appeals and (c) outstanding entry clearance appeals were transferred from the Immigration Appellate Authority to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in April; and how many appeals in each category are awaiting determination by the tribunal.

Bridget Prentice: Information available from the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) indicates that, at the end of March 2005, (a) 16,300 asylum cases, (b) 10,500 immigration cases (comprising in-country and entry clearance appeals) and (c) 8,600 family visitor cases were outstanding with the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA).
	Under transitional legislation, all outstanding work with the IAA was transferred to an appropriate stage of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) following its commencement on 4 April 2005.
	As at the end of June 2005, the latest provisional figures from the AIT indicate that there were 12,650 asylum appeals, 17,550 immigration appeals (comprising in-country and entry clearance appeals) and 17,800 family visitor appeals considered to be outstanding before the AIT.
	It is not possible to provide the proportion of those appeals transferred from the IAA to the AIT, which are still considered to be outstanding, without incurring disproportionate costs.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Discretionary Social Fund

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress in reviewing the discretionary social fund.

James Plaskitt: The social fund plays an important part in helping people on the lowest incomes avoid the need to resort to high cost lenders. Significant improvements to the social fund budgeting loan scheme are being introduced in April 2006. These changes, which are being supported by an additional 210 million (net) over the three years to 200809, are intended to make loans more accessible and more affordable. The improvements include changes to the way in which existing budgeting loan debt affects an applicant's ability to take out a further loan, lower repayment rates, longer repayment periods and a major simplification of the way that the maximum loan amounts that can be offered to eligible applicants are calculated. The minimum amount an applicant can borrow as a budgeting loan will increase from 30 to 100 and the maximum debt available as a combination of crisis and budgeting loans will increase from 1,000 to 1,500.
	It is important that people on low incomes are not penalised for saving. That is why the changes to the budgeting loan scheme will also include an increase in the capital limits. From April 2006 the amount an applicant can have in savings without it affecting their access to budgeting loans will be doubled to 1,000 for working age applicants and 2,000 for pensioners.
	The aim of future changes will be to ensure that the social fund is not merely a safety net in times of need but will also help people to become self-reliant and able to take control of their spending decisions. We want to ensure that reform will contribute to improving financial inclusion for those on the lowest income.

DNA Bioscience

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times he has met representatives of DNA Bioscience since May in connection with his ministerial responsibilities.

John Hutton: Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) have had any such meetings.

Household Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of children have lived in households with (a) no adult in work, (b) a single parent and (c) less than 60 per cent. of median income in each year since 1976; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: At spring 2005 there were 15.7 per cent. of children living in a household with no adult in work and 22.1 per cent. of children living in a lone parent household.
	
		Percentage of children in (a) households with no one in work and (b) lone parent households from 1992 to 2005
		
			 Period as at spring Children in households with no one in work Children in lone parent households 
		
		
			 1992 19.7 17.1 
			 1993 20.3 18.0 
			 1994 21.0 19.5 
			 1995 20.6 20.6 
			 1996 19.8 20.2 
			 1997 18.4 19.9 
			 1998 18.5 21.1 
			 1999 18.0 21.6 
			 2000 16.4 21.0 
			 2001 16.1 21.3 
			 2002 16.7 22.2 
			 2003 16.1 22.4 
			 2004 15.9 22.6 
			 2005 15.7 22.1 
		
	
	Source:
	Household labour force survey
	Between 199697 and 200304 the number of children who live in households with less than 60 per cent. of median income has fallen by 600,000 before housing costs and 700,000 after housing costs.
	
		Percentage of children who have lived in households with less than 60 per cent. of median income
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Before housing costsFRS (GB) 
			 199405 23 
			 199506 22 
			 199607 25 
			 199708 25 
			 199809 24 
			 19992000 23 
			 200001 21 
			 200102 21 
			 200203 21 
			 200304 21  
			 After housing costsFRS (GB)  
			 199405 31 
			 199506 31 
			 199607 33 
			 199708 32 
			 199809 33 
			 19992000 32 
			 200001 30 
			 200102 30 
			 200203 28 
			 200304 28 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are from the households below average income (HBAI) publication, DWP. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/hbai.asp.
	2. Family resource survey (FRS) figures are for Great Britain. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years.
	3. In order to maintain comparability with data in different years FRS data has been used. FES data is available for years 1993--94 and earlier but is not directly comparable with FRS.
	Source:
	Family resource survey

Household Statistics

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many wards in the Waverley borough council area have over 50 percent. of children with (a) one parent and (b) two parents receiving out of work means-tested benefits.

Margaret Hodge: There are no wards in Waverley borough council where more than 50 per cent. of children have parents in receipt of out-of-work income-related benefits.

Pensions

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he intends to allow scheme actuaries to continue to set contribution rates for occupational pension funds; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Part 3 of the Pensions Act 2004 sets out the framework for the new scheme funding requirements that will apply to most private sector defined benefit occupational pension schemes and which will replace the current minimum funding requirement. The detail of the requirements will be set out in regulations to be made under part 3 of the Act. I expect these to come into force on 30 December 2005.
	The new arrangements place the ultimate responsibility for funding decisions with the trustees, acting in partnership with the employer, and taking account of the advice of the scheme actuary. We firmly believe that this responsibility should rest with the trustees, given their fiduciary duty to act in the interests of scheme members.
	We therefore do not consider that it is appropriate for the scheme actuary to continue to set contribution rates in the exceptional circumstances where a scheme's rules currently give the actuary this power, rather than the trustees or the employer.
	In these circumstances, trustees will be required to agree the funding strategy with the employer, having regard to the recommendations of the actuary on certain key matters. In addition, the actuary's certification of the scheme's schedule of contributions must state that the rates shown are not lower than those he or she would have provided for if the actuary, rather than the trustees, had the responsibility for preparing the schedule.

Pensions

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Tamworth constituency, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the UK who have lost their pensions due to firm insolvency since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available. The Government are currently inviting notifications from affected pension schemes to the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), and are therefore obtaining some information on the number of members facing pensions losses due to company insolvency. In due course, information will also be collected on individual members in schemes qualifying for FAS, including their addresses, at which point it may be possible to make some estimates of numbers affected in particular areas.
	Based on our most recent data collection for the FAS, we know of around 70,000 non-pensioner members in schemes that are potentially eligible for assistance from the FAS as a result of their schemes being wound up in circumstances of insolvency or where the employer no longer exists.

Second-hand Smoke (Asthma)

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of cases of asthma attacks that are caused by second-hand smoke in the workplace.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have not made an estimate on the percentage of cases of asthma attacks that are caused by second-hand smoke in the workplace.
	The national asthma panel is an annual survey of asthma sufferers commissioned by Asthma UK. In 2003, results from the national asthma panel showed that of the 40 per cent. of people with asthma who said things at work can worsen their asthma, 38 per cent. said cigarette smoke triggered their asthma. The national asthma panel also found that 82 per cent. of people with asthma reported that other people's smoke makes their asthma worse.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Common Agricultural Policy

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy not to give up the UK's EU budget rebate in return for Common Agricultural Policy reform.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the House on 1 November 2005, Official Report, column 707.

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in the Democratic Republic of Congo towards the electoral mandate agreed in the 2002 peace deal.

Ian Pearson: Good progress is being made towards holding elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo by June 2006. Nearly 20 million Congolese have registered to vote, and the Congolese Parliament will shortly begin work on the electoral law. A referendum on the draft constitution is scheduled for 18 December.
	The UK has contributed 10 million to the UN-administered trust fund for elections, and will contribute 8 million to election security. We and partners were successful in securing $103 million of additional UN funding for the UN peacekeeping force (MONUC)'s support to election logistics.
	We and international partners continue to push the transitional Government and Independent Electoral Commission to stick closely to the agreed timetable.

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the effectiveness of MONUC in meeting its responsibility to protect civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ian Pearson: The UN peacekeeping force (MONUC) has conducted effective operations to disarm Ituri militias and disrupt the activities of foreign armed groups. However, armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continue to persecute civilians.
	Through UN Security Council resolutions, we have ensured that civilian protection is integral to MONUC's mandate. We continue to support MONUC's robust approach to protecting civilians and tackling armed groups in Ituri, which they have begun to replicate in the Kivu provinces. We are working with MONUC to ensure that it can fully implement its mandate.

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in tackling corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ian Pearson: Corruption remains endemic across Congolese society, including in politics, business and the military. The Security Council underlined the urgency of reducing corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo in its resolution 1621 of 6 September 2005. Thus far, the Congolese Government have rejected international proposals to create a formal anti-corruption body.
	We believe that corruption must urgently be addressed and continue to press for action, including on accountability in paying salaries to the armed forces and the transparent management of natural resources.

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the arms embargo in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ian Pearson: The UK continues to observe and support strongly the UN and EU arms embargoes on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Despite international efforts to enforce the embargoes, and the monitoring of the embargo by UN peacekeepers and by the UN Group of Experts, there is some evidence that rebel groups operating in eastern DRC continue to use illegally supplied arms and ammunition.
	We continue to work to strengthen enforcement of the embargoes. We are close to securing agreement in the UN Security Council on identifying a list of arms embargo violators to be subject to assets freezes and travel bans.

Departmental Estate

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) land and (b) property his Department owns in Kettering constituency.

Jack Straw: None.

Kaliningrad Peninsula

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will visit the Kaliningrad peninsula to promote the entry of this territory into the European Union.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans at present to visit the Russian region of Kaliningrad. The Kaliningrad region is part of the Russian Federation, which currently has no plans to seek membership of the European Union.

Liechtenstein

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the merits of inviting Liechtenstein to join the European Union.

Douglas Alexander: The EU currently enjoys good relations with Liechtenstein through the European Economic Area Agreement. The question of applying for EU membership would be an issue for the people and Government of Liechtenstein.

North Korea

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will distance himself from US foreign policy towards North Korea; and if he will initiate discussions with the North Korean Government to promote good relations.

Ian Pearson: The UK, alongside the EU, wishes to see the nuclear issue in North Korea resolved peacefully through negotiation in the Six Party Talks, leading to the verifiable dismantlement of North Korea's illicit weapons programmes and resumption of their engagement in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The UK, in agreement with the EU, also wants to see an improvement in the human rights situation in North Korea. We discuss our concerns regularly with the US, as it is evident that US policy is directed towards the same goals.
	The UK established diplomatic relations with North Korea in December 2000. We maintain regular dialogue with the North Korean authorities, both through their embassy in London and ours in Pyongyang.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of militia activity along tribal lines in Darfur.

Ian Pearson: Tribal allegiance has some influence on the organisation of the militias in Darfur, including the Arab militias and rebel movements. But there are many other factors, including political and financial gain, which motivate the formation and activities of these armed groups. In recent weeks Darfur has seen a worrying increase in violence, caused mainly by banditry. We condemn these attacks and have made clear that those responsible must be brought to justice.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of harassment, attacks and abductions of non-governmental organisation workers in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The latest report by the UN Secretary-General on Darfur refers to frequent harassment and assaults on humanitarian aid workers during incidents of banditry, and states that these attacks have increased in cruelty and violence. We have made clear that these attacks are entirely unacceptable and that those responsible must be brought to justice. Any information on the perpetrators should be passed to the relevant bodies for consideration under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1591 and 1593.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress the International Criminal Court (ICC) is making in its investigations in Darfur; what assessment he has made of the response of the regime in Khartoum to the ICC; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, will be making his second report to the Security Council in December as required under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1593. He will have the opportunity at that time to up-date the council on the progress of his investigation and to let the council know the status of co-operation from the Government of Sudan and other involved states, groups and organisations. UNSCR 1593 imposes a legal obligation on the Government of Sudan to co-operate with the court.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the Sudanese Liberation Army and (b) the Justice and Equality Movement.

Ian Pearson: We are in regular contact with the two main rebel movementsthe Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) through officials in the Sudan unit in London and our embassy in Khartoum.
	Most recently, on 20 October, Her Majesty's ambassador to Sudan travelled to Darfur to meet Minni Minnawi, Secretary General of the SLM/A, and urged him to resolve the internal divisions within the movement, abide by the ceasefire and reach a political solution as soon as possible.
	My noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa plans to meet Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, President of the JEM, on 9 November.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support (a) the UK and (b) the EU has given to the African Union peace-keeping operation in Darfur.

Ian Pearson: The UK has committed 19 million funding this year to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). This brings our total contribution to AMIS, since its inception, to almost 32 million. We are using this money to help airlift the troops into Darfur; to provide equipment, including 950 vehicles, of which 450 have already been purchased; and to provide military and civilian policing advice, expertise and training.
	The European Commission has provided 92 million from the African Peace Facility to AMIS. We also expect that the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 7 November will approve a further 70 million from this source. In addition, to date, bilateral contributions from the EU have totalled more than 70 million. The EU has provided its assistance to AMIS in terms of planning and management support, funding, and logistics.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the deployment of 10,000 troops to the UN mission in Sudan.

Ian Pearson: Deployment of the UN peace support mission to Sudan (UNMIS) is continuing, with 3,639 personnel deployed as of 30 October. Deployment has been slower than expected due to the rainy season and delays from Troop Contributing Countries. The UN currently expects foil deployment of the mandated 10,000 military personnel and up to 715 civilian police by January 2006.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of whether the Government of Sudan are using helicopter gun ships to attack refugees in Darfur.

Ian Pearson: We have received unconfirmed reports that the Government of Sudan airforce have been used in recent operations in Darfur. The African Union is currently investigating and we await their report. Offensive military overflights by the Government of Sudan would constitute a breach of their obligations under the Abuja Security Protocol and, under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1591, those responsible are liable to targeted sanctions.

UN Convention Against Corruption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the timetable is for British ratification of the UN Convention Against Corruption; what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Parliament in relation to corresponding orders; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government hope to be in a position to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption by the end of this year. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not held any discussions with the Scottish Parliament.

Zimbabwe

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on President Mugabe's Operation Murambatsvina.

Ian Pearson: Since my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's written statement of 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 89WS, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Anna Tibaijuka, has visited Zimbabwe to examine the effects of Operation Murambatsvina. Her report provided a damning indictment of the inhumanity of the Mugabe Government. We supported discussion of her report in the Security Council in July and October. The Foreign Secretary also drew attention to her findings, and to the need for action, in his speech to the UN General Assembly in September. We deplore the Government of Zimbabwe's rejection of the Special Envoy's report and we are concerned at the continuation of policies that exacerbate the suffering of those affected. We will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to help the victims of this policy and, together with our international partners, press the Government of Zimbabwe to reverse its policies so that they address, rather than worsen, the humanitarian situation of its people.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Antisocial Behaviour

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to tackle antisocial behaviour by tenants in the private rented sector.

David Hanson: The procedure for evicting a private sector tenant who is guilty of antisocial behaviour can be initiated at relatively short notice under the notice to quit procedure. Where the tenant's own landlord is unwilling to take action, the Housing Executive, registered housing associations and private sector landlords can seek injunctions to protect their tenants, persons visiting their tenants and persons carrying out a lawful activity in the vicinity of their tenants' homes, from conduct causing or likely to cause nuisance or annoyance. A landlord can seek such an injunction against any person, including a tenant of another landlord.
	In addition, the Anti-social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 allows the Housing Executive to seek antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) to protect its tenants, persons visiting or residing with their tenants, and persons in or likely to be in the vicinity of the executive's houses, from behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The Housing Executive can apply for an ASBO against any person, including a private sector tenant.

Benefit Appeals

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals were made in Northern Ireland against decisions on (i) disability and (ii) sickness benefits in each year since 1998.

David Hanson: Due to the archiving facility within the computerised management information system operating within the appeal service, it is not possible to obtain the requested information for the 1998 and 1999 years. The information has therefore been provided for each full calendar year from 2000 onwards.
	
		Appeal outcome by benefit type1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004
		
			  Disability appeals Sickness/incapacity benefit 
			  Number successful (allowed) Number unsuccessful (disallowed) Number successful (allowed) Number unsuccessful (disallowed) 
		
		
			 2000 1,003 3,154 2,517 3,245 
			 2001 1,959 6,055 1,870 2,790 
			 2002 2,057 7,837 1,644 2,601 
			 2003 1,840 6,421 1,550 2,413 
			 2004 1,621 4,532 1,233 2,082 
			 Total 8,480 27,999 8,814 13,131 
		
	
	Prior to April 2004, each component (care and mobility) of disability living allowance was counted as a separate appeal. This practice changed from 1 April 2004, when a disability living allowance appeal was counted as one appeal, regardless of the number of components involved. The decrease in disability appeal outcomes for during 2004 reflects this change.

Carbon Management Programme

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department will sign up to the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management programme.

Peter Hain: As part of its sustainable development strategy the NIO has a comprehensive programme to control and manage its energy consumption and to reduce carbon emissions. The department adheres to the Government's sustainable energy policy and reports through the public sector energy campaign. The Department will continue to access services of the Carbon Trust to support its energy improvement campaign under the existing arrangements.
	This answer only applies to the Northern Ireland Office and not to the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland administration.

Civil Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many permanent Northern Ireland civil servants have been demoted in each of the last 10 years; how many of these have been voluntarily demoted; and what the respective (a) grades and (b) branches of the officers were (i) before and (ii) after demotion.

Angela Smith: In the Northern Ireland Civil Service demotions may fall into two categoriesone requested by the individual officer and the second as a result of an individual's inefficiency at the present grade or as the consequence of disciplinary action.
	A table setting out the total number of Northern Ireland Civil Servants demoted and also voluntarily demoted for each year from January 1996 to 2005 to date, can be found at Table 1.
	Table 2 shows for each year aggregate demotions by grade and whether or not there was a change of branch after demotion. To protect the identity of individual members of staff concerned branches before and after demotion have not been provided.
	
		Table 1: Overall number of demotions and voluntary demotions of Northern Ireland Civil Servants in Northern Ireland Government Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, 19962005 to date
		
			  Total number of demotions Total number of voluntary demotions 
		
		
			 1996 9 7 
			 1997 3 3 
			 1998 2 2 
			 1999 14 8 
			 2000 13 10 
			 2001 13 11 
			 2002 13 10 
			 2003 12 8 
			 2004 15 12 
			 2005, to date 11 11 
			 Overall total 105 82 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Northern Ireland Civil Servants demoted in Northern Ireland Government Departments and the Northern Ireland Office 1996 to 2005
		
			Branch 
			 Grade after demotion Grade before demotion Number demoted Changed branch Remained in branch 
		
		
			 1996 
			 AA AO 3 2 1 
			 AO E02 3 3  
			 Grade 7 Grade 5 1 1  
			 ASO Scientific Officer 1 1  
			 EO1 SO 1 1  
			  
			 1997 
			 Roadworker (Team Leader F) Foreman 1 1  
			 EO11 EO1 1 1  
			 EO1 SO 1 1  
			  
			 1998 
			 AO EO2 1 1  
			 AA SSO2 1  1 
			  
			 1999 
			 AA AO 5 3 2 
			 Class 3 Craft Helper 1 1  
			 EO2 EO1 2 1 1 
			 AO EO2 2 2  
			 DP Grade 7 1 1  
			 AO Programmer 1 1  
			 Roadworker 2 Roadworker 1 1  1 
			 EO2 SO 1  1 
			  
			 2000 
			 Grade 7 Grade 6 2 1 1 
			 EO2 EO1 1 1  
			 AO EO2 2 2  
			 Grade 5 Grade 3 1  1 
			 PTO Civil Engineer Graduate Trainee Civil Engineer 1 1  
			 AA SSO2 3 3  
			 Support Grade Band 2 (SGB2) Support Grade Band 1 (SGB1) 2 1 1 
			 Typist Typing Manager 1  1 
			  
			 2001 
			 SGB1 AO 1 1  
			 C (EO1/EO2) B2 (SO) 2 2  
			 EO2 EO1 1 1  
			 SSO1 EO1 1 1  
			 AO EO2 2 2  
			 SGB2 SGB1 3 2 1 
			 AO SO 1 1  
			 EOl SO 1  1 
			 AA SSO2 1  1 
			  
			 2002 
			 AA AO 3 1 2 
			 SSO1 EO1 1 1  
			 AO EO2 1  1 
			 AO EO1 1 1  
			 PTO HPTO 1  1 
			 SGB2 SGB1 1 1  
			 SGB1 SM3 1  1 
			 EO1 SO 3 3  
			 AA SSO2 1  1 
			  
			 2003 
			 AA AO 6 3 3 
			 Class 2 Class 1 2  2 
			 EO2 EO1 1  1 
			 Inspector Grade 2 Inspector Grade 11 1  
			 SS02 SSO1 1  1 
			 AA SSO2 1  1 
			  
			 2004 
			 AA AO 5 2 3 
			 Dl (AO) C (EO1/2) 1 1  
			 D2 (AA) Dl (AO) 1  1 
			 AO EO2 4 2 2 
			 DP Grade 7 1 1  
			 AO SSO1 1 1  
			 AA SSO2 2  2 
			  
			 2005 
			 AA AO 3  3 
			 SG2 (Lab Attendant) ASO 1 1  
			 Dl (AO) C (EO1/2) 1 1  
			 Class 3 Class 2 1 1  
			 EO2 EO1 1  1 
			 Scientific Officer Higher Scientific Officer1 1  
			 AA SSO2 2 1 1 
			 EO2 SO 1 1  
		
	
	Glossary of Grades:
	AA : Administrative Assistant
	AO : Administrative Officer
	ASO: Assistant Scientific Officer
	DP: Deputy Principal
	EO: Executive Officer
	HPTO: Higher Professional and Technical Officer
	PTO: Professional and Technical Officer
	SGB: Support Grade Band
	SM: Support Manager
	SO: Staff Officer
	SSO: Social Security Officer

Climate Change Targets

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the contribution that action by local authorities in Northern Ireland will make to meet climate change targets.

Angela Smith: Northern Ireland contributes to the UK climate change targets. There are no separate emission reduction targets for Northern Ireland.
	Data are available on emission trends at regional and local level. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published estimates of carbon dioxide emissions for 2003 by local authority area in the UK on 21 October 2005. The Northern Ireland figures were attached.
	These are experimental statistics subject to some limitations and uncertainties and it is too early to use them as performance indicators for local areas.

Crosshill Quarry

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which authority permitted the setting aside of the conditions imposed by the planning appeal tribunal on the disposal of railway carriages at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin.

Angela Smith: At the time of the waste licensing tribunal in July 1984, Antrim borough council was the waste licensing authority for the Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin site. The tribunal recommended that the council should approve the waste licence and apply a number of conditions for the burial of the railway carriages under Article 12 of the Pollution Control and Local Government (NI) Order 1978. The Department is not aware of the extent to which the conditions were met.

Crosshill Quarry

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the dismantling of railway carriages at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin (a) commenced and (b) was completed.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment is not aware of the exact dates for the beginning and completion of the railway carriages' relocation within Crosshill Quarry. The contractors intended to complete this work during November and December 2003. However, it is the Department's understanding that, once work had commenced, the weight of the waterlogged carriages necessitated cutting them into three sections to allow their movement and relocation. As a result, the work took longer than originally anticipated. Documentary and photographic evidence obtained by departmental staff during two site visits in February 2004 recorded the completion of the relocation work.

Crosshill Quarry

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether an investigation into the dismantling of railway carriages at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin is being undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment is not currently undertaking an investigation into the dismantling of the railway carriages. The Department has carried out soil and water tests at and around the quarry and the results have shown that there is no cause for concern with regard to asbestos contamination of the surrounding area. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has completed an investigation into the dismantling of railway carriages at Crosshill Quarry and no investigations are currently being undertaken.

Crosshill Quarry

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Environment and Heritage Service was responsible for monitoring the dismantling of carriages at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin; and what monitoring was carried out (a) before, (b) during and (c) after the railway carriages were dismantled.

Angela Smith: The Environment and Heritage Service's water management unit visited the site, prior to and after the dismantling of the carriages. Water quality analysis has indicated that there is no cause for concern in relation to water pollution from the site. The asbestos levels detected in two of the five water samples collected in November 2004 were not of a level considered hazardous to humans to drink or to aquatic organisms. The Environment and Heritage Service's waste management and contaminated land unit did not monitor the site before 19 December 2003 as Antrim borough council was then the statutory waste licensing authority. The waste management and contaminated land unit monitored the site during February 2004 and has photographic evidence that the dismantling and reburial of the carriages had been completed. The unit also undertook detailed soil sampling of the quarry floor in February 2005 and found small quantities of white asbestos, for which remedial action was taken.

Disability Support

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to promote disability support in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Department for Employment and Learning provides support for people with disabilities through the provision of guidance and information on employment and training. The Department's Disablement Advisory Service (DAS) works closely with employers, health professionals and disability organisations to promote its services and programmes to people with disabilities.

Divorce

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children there are in each region whose parents are divorced ranked in descending order; and what percentage of all children this represents in each case.

Angela Smith: The numbers of dependent children living with a divorced lone parent, as recorded in the 2001 Census, are given in the table. These constitute a subset of all children with divorced parents and will not include, for example, children of divorced parents living with other relatives or those living in communal establishments.
	
		
			 Local Government district Dependent children in families living with divorced lone parent (A) All dependent children in families (B) A as a percentage of B 
		
		
			 Belfast 4,345 66,962 6.49 
			 Derry 1,794 31,867 5.63 
			 Lisburn 1,440 29,967 4.81 
			 Craigavon 1,156 22,420 5.16 
			 North Down 934 17,495 5.34 
			 Newtownabbey 985 19,476 5.06 
			 Ards 849 17,637 4.81 
			 Newry and Mourne907 26,193 3.46 
			 Coleraine 829 14,177 5.85 
			 Down 719 18,032 3.99 
			 Castlereagh 705 16,090 4.38 
			 Ballymena 659 14,546 4.53 
			 Antrim 563 12,878 4.37 
			 Carrickfergus 480 9,539 5.03 
			 Armagh 479 15,574 3.08 
			 Fermanagh 479 16,082 2.98 
			 Dungannon 474 14,003 3.38 
			 Omagh 421 14,343 2.94 
			 Strabane 458 11,237 4.08 
			 Banbridge 377 11,007 3.43 
			 Limavady 339 9,270 3.66 
			 Larne 321 7,558 4.25 
			 Magherafelt 381 11,802 3.23 
			 Cookstown 349 9,651 3.62 
			 Ballymoney 268 7,224 3.71 
			 Moyle 190 4,325 4.39 
			 Northern Ireland20,901 449,355 4.65 
		
	
	Source:
	2001 Census of Population

Dyslexia

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was given in each of the last five years to dyslexia organisations in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The following table provides details of funding provided directly to dyslexia organisations.
	
		
			 Financial year Amount () Name of organisation/comments 
		
		
			 200304 5,697.67 Dyslexia and Dyspraxia SupportFunding provided by Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, under Peace II, to assist with a conference, which outlined how the Department of Education, the law, the psychology service and parents can work together to improve access to education and training for people who suffer from dyslexia. 
			 200405 1,978.12 British Dyslexia AssociationFunding provided by Department of Employment and Learning to deliver awareness training to relevant training organisations.

Eaga Partnership

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been made against the Eaga Partnership in each of the last three years in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: Records relating to the number of complaints made to Eaga Partnership Ltd are only available for the period April 2003 to March 2005.
	The information for this period, which relates to complaints made to Eaga Partnership Ltd, is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of complaints 
		
		
			 April 2003 to March 2004 3 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 1

Human Resources Contract

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Project (a) Board and (b) Team for the electronic Human Resources Contract indicating (i) the Department or agency each represents and (ii) their areas of expertise and experience.

Angela Smith: The Project Board consists of senior civil service members experienced in and representing the personnel function within the NICS departments and the NIO. The director of personnel for the NICS chairs the Board and its members include personnel directors from each department and the NIO, along with a senior representative from the Central Procurement Directorate, the Strategic Investment Board and the NI Statistical and Research Agency. The eHR team is comprised of experienced personnel, payroll, ICT, project, programme and change management experts. This team is supported by a number of quality review teams. These teams consist of personnel and payroll practitioners from across the NICS and NIO. The appointed legal and financial advisers to the project join the Board for discussions as required.

Human Resources Contract

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) professional advice and (b) independent peer review has been commissioned in respect of the Northern Ireland Civil Service's decisions and processes in relation to the electronic Human Resources Contract.

Angela Smith: Legal advice is provided by Denton Wilde Sapte who are engaged by the Strategic Investment Board. Financial advice has been provided by Deloitte MCS Limited and Grant Thornton UK LLP. Advice is also provided by the Strategic Investment Board and the Central Procurement Directorate of the Department of Finance and Personnel.
	The eHR project has been subject to an independent Peer Review process which commenced in November 2002. Five reviews have been conducted under the peer review process in accordance with Office of Government Commerce guidance on the completion of Gateway reviews. The Office of Government Commerce is an office of HM Treasury. Each review has been led by a designated Office of Government Commerce member of staff and supported by a panel of members independent of the eHR project.

IRA Decommissioning

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  on what date he was first informed of the identity of the two clergy witnesses to IRA decommissioning;
	(2)  on what date he was first informed that the IRA had invited reverend Good and Father Reid to be the clergy witnesses to IRA decommissioning.

Shaun Woodward: On 26 September, the IICD gave a press conference and submitted a report to the British and Irish Governments. The Reverend Good and Father Reid attended that conference in their capacity as independent witnesses. The identities of the independent witnesses were known from that point onwards. The IICD's report to the two Governments of 26 September referred to the role of Reverend Good and Father Reid in witnessing the decommissioning. The independent witnesses provided invaluable extra assurance in the process.

Landlords

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) information and (b) training is made available by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to landlords.

David Hanson: The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has recognised the need to provide information and training to landlords on a range of issues. Action to date has taken a number of forms. It has:
	Held a number of open seminars in Belfast, Londonderry and Coleraine to discuss general topics of interest to landlords.
	Established a Landlords Association in the North and West of the Province.
	Established a Landlords Forum whose members include the Landlords Association for Northern Ireland, Smartmove and others.
	Established a Private Rented Sector Advice and Information Forum to assess the support and education needs of landlords and develop a programme to meet these needs.
	Held, and continues to hold, periodic landlord seminars to update landlords on the application of housing benefit.
	In addition, information has been provided to landlords on a range of houses in multiple occupation issues and guidance material made available on housing benefit and the private rented sector.

Landlords

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce a requirement for landlords to agree written tenancy agreements with their tenants in the private rented sector.

David Hanson: The draft Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, recently published for consultation by the Department for Social Development, includes provisions to place a requirement on private landlords to provide tenants with a written tenancy agreement.

Local Government

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were in (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment in each local council in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The number of district council employees for each of the last five years is not available. The most up-to-date figures, recorded at 1 January 2002, are set out in the table. An exercise to update this information is currently under way.
	
		
			 District council Full-time employees Part-time employees(15) 
		
		
			 Antrim 208 70 
			 Ards 299 82 
			 Armagh 213 48 
			 Ballymena 129 18 
			 Ballymoney 89 31 
			 Banbridge 156 32 
			 Belfast 1810 549 
			 Carrickfergus 152 44 
			 Castlereagh 216 64 
			 Coleraine 251 48 
			 Cookstown 126 68 
			 Craigavon 380 60 
			 Derry 449 109 
			 Down 236 54 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone80 36 
			 Fermanagh 212 31 
			 Larne 146 13 
			 Limavady 110 32 
			 Lisburn 455 6 
			 Magherafelt 121 76 
			 Moyle 101 13 
			 Newry and Mourne 367 32 
			 Newtownabbey 281 181 
			 North Down 301 152 
			 Omagh 249 172 
			 Strabane 141 11 
			 Total 7,278 2,032 
		
	
	(15) Part time denotes anyone working fewer than 30 hours per week, including job sharers

London Olympics

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the potential benefits for Northern Ireland from London hosting the 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: I have commissioned a strategic plan, which will be in place by January 2006. This will outline the options for maximising the opportunities that will increase participation and performance in sport, and to leave a legacy in sport, tourism and the economy. This will be reflected in the development of the new 10 year Strategy for Sport which will be offered for public consultation in February/March 2006.
	Our priorities will be:
	to improve Sport in Northern Ireland;
	to focus on identifying young talent capable of achieving the highest level of success;
	to leave a legacy of facilities, equipment and opportunity for the young people for tomorrow;
	to host preparation camps and holding camps;
	attract appropriate sporting events in the run up to 2012;
	hold preliminary rounds of the Soccer tournament in Northern Ireland subject to the proposed Multi-Sports Stadium being built;
	to maximise the amount of time in Northern Ireland for the Olympic Torch Relay;
	to ensure Northern Ireland Business maximise the opportunities for business as a result of 2012;
	we will ensure we plug into the initiatives under the 2012 cultural and volunteering programme.

Marriages

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many marriage ceremonies have taken place in (a) Antrim borough council and (b) Ards borough council in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The following tables give the number of marriages registered in Antrim and Ards local government districts and, of these, the number of civil ceremonies which took place in the Antrim and Ards council offices between 2000 and 2004.
	
		Table: Number of marriages registered in Antrim local government district and of these the number of civil ceremonies that took place in the Antrim council office, 2000 to 2004(16)
		
			  Civil marriages celebrated in Antrim council office Marriages registered in Antrim local government district 
		
		
			 2000 59 203 
			 2001 60 221 
			 2002 67 203 
			 2003 46 201 
			 2004(16) 48 203 
		
	
	(16) Data for 2004 are provisional.
	
		Table: Number of marriages registered in Ards local government district and of these the number of civil ceremonies that took place in the Ards council office, 2000 to 2004(17)
		
			  Civil marriages celebrated in Ards council office Marriages registered in Ards local government district 
		
		
			 2000 86 273 
			 2001 80 290 
			 2002 82 293 
			 2003 75 291 
			 2004(17) 65 244 
		
	
	(17) Data for 2004 are provisional.

Marriages

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many marriage licences were issued by (a) Antrim borough council and (b) Ards borough council in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Prior to 1 January 2004, all civil marriages were carried out either by Registrar's Certificate or Registrar's Licence but separate statistics are not available for each form of authority. The following tables give the total number of civil marriages in Antrim and Ards local government districts between 2000 and 2003.
	New marriage legislation introduced from 1 January 2004 provided for universal civil preliminaries with a schedule issued by the registrar constituting the authority for all marriages, religious or civil, to take place. In 2004, 185 marriages were carried out by schedule in Antrim local government district and 231 marriages were carried out by schedule in Ards local government district. Of these 57 marriages in Antrim local government district and 78 marriages in Ards local government district were civil marriages.
	A further three civil marriages in Antrim local government district and four civil marriages in Ards local government district took place in 2004, under the previous legislation.
	
		Table 1: The total number of civil marriages inAntrim council office, 200003
		
			  Civil marriages celebrated in Antrim council office 
		
		
			 2000 59 
			 2001 60 
			 2002 67 
			 2003 46 
		
	
	
		Table 2: The total number of civil marriages in Ardscouncil office, 200003
		
			  Civil marriages celebrated in Ards council office 
		
		
			 2000 86 
			 2001 80 
			 2002 82 
			 2003 75

MOT Tests

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce free MOT tests for pensioners in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency has no plans at present to introduce free MOT tests for pensioners in Northern Ireland.

New Schools

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new schools are planned to be built in each of the education board areas in Northern Ireland, broken down by location.

Angela Smith: There are 94 new schools currently being planned or under construction in Northern Ireland, for which funding has been approved by the Department of Education. Details of these are as follows.
	Belfast education and library board area
	Springhill P.S. Ballygomartin Road, Belfast
	Suffolk P.S. Black's Road, Belfast
	Orangefield P.S. Marina Park, Belfast
	Strand/Sydenham P.S. Strandtown Street, Belfast
	Rosetta P.S. Knockbreda Road, Belfast
	La Salle Boys' S.S. Edenmore Drive, Belfast
	Strathearn G.S. Belmont, Belfast
	Ashfield Girls' H.S. Holywood Road, Belfast
	Belfast Boys' Model, Ballysillan Road, Belfast
	Belfast Model School for Girls, Dunkeld Gardens, Belfast
	Grosvenor G.S. Cameronian Drive, Belfast
	Orangefield H.S. Cameronian Drive, Belfast
	Cedar Lodge Special School, Sheringhurst Park, Belfast
	Harberton Special School, Harberton Park, Belfast
	Greenwood Assessment Centre, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast
	Mitchell House Special School, Holywood Road, Belfast
	Sub total16
	North Eastern education and library board area
	St. Mary's P.S. Portglenone
	Mossley P.S. Newtownabbey
	Holy Family P.S. Magherafelt
	Camphill P.S. Ballymena
	Leaney P.S. Ballymoney
	Creggan P.S. Randalstown
	Ballymena Maintained Primary Schools (amalgamation in two new schools)
	Carnalridge P.S. Portrush
	Fourtowns P.S. Ahoghill
	Magheratelt P.S. Magherfelt
	Moorfields P.S. Ballymena
	St. MacNisius P.S. Tannaghmore
	St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's P.S. Ballycastle
	Coleraine Academy
	Ballymoney H.S.
	Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt
	Hillcroft Special School, Newtownabbey
	Sub-total18
	South Eastern education and library board area
	St. Ita's P.S. Carryduff1
	Dundonald P.S
	St. Joseph's P. S. Carryduff
	East Lisburn Primary Schools (amalgamation in one new school)
	St. Patrick's P.S. Saul, Downpatrick
	Ballinderry P.S. Lisburn
	Ballymacrickett P.S. Crumlin
	St, Colman's P.S. Lambeg
	Bangor Academy
	Comber H.S.
	Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock, Belfast
	St. Patrick's G.S. Downpatrick
	Tor Bank Special School, Dundonald
	Brookfield Special School, Moira
	Kircubbin Community Nursery School 1
	Sub-total 15
	Southern education and library board area
	St. Clare's and St. Colman's P.S. Newry
	St. Patrick's P.S. Donaghmore
	Annaghmore and Tullyroan P.S. Portadown (amalgamation in one new school)
	St. Teresa's P.S. Lurgan
	St. Joseph's Convent P.S. Newry
	Windmill Integrated P.S. Dungannon
	Carrick P.S. Warrenpoint
	Dromintee P.S. Newry
	Dromore Central P.S.
	Maralin P.S. Magheralin
	Moneydarragh P.S. Annalong
	St. Joseph's P.S. Ballymartin, Kilkeel
	St. Oliver Plunkett's P.S. Forkhill
	St. Peter's P.S. Cloughreagh, Bessbrook
	St. Patrick's College, Dungannon
	Fivemiletown H.S.
	St. Joseph's Convent G.S. Donaghmore
	St. Patrick's Academy, Dungannon
	Abbey G.S. Newry
	Holy Trinity College, Cookstown
	Sub-total20
	Appendix A
	Western education and library board area
	St. Dympna's P.S. Dromore
	Maguiresbridge P.S.
	Kesh P.S.
	Omagh Integrated P.S
	Burnfoot, Dungiven and Largy P.S., Dungiven (amalgamation in one new school)
	Coranny and Cornagague P.S. Roslea (amalgamation in one new school)
	Enniskillen Integrated P.S.
	Killen P.S., Castlederg
	Lisbellaw P.S.
	Lisnagelvin P.S. Londonderry
	St. Columbkille's P.S. Carrickmore
	St. Paul's P.S. Irvinestown
	Holy Cross College, Strabane
	St. Cecilia's College, Londonderry
	St. Mary's College, Londonderry
	Drumragh Integrated College, Omagh
	St. Fanchea's College, Enniskillen
	Lisneal College, Londonderry
	Devenish College, Enniskillen
	Loreto G.S. Omagh
	Strabane G.S.
	Cranny Special School, Omagh
	Belmont House Special School, Londonderry
	Erne Special School, Enniskillen
	Limegrove and Glasvey Special Schools,
	Limavady (amalgamation in one new school)
	Sub-total25
	Grand total94
	All other schools are to replace existing sub-standard accommodation.
	Note:
	1 Two schools, St. Ita's P S Carryduff and Kircubbin Nursery School (South Eastern) represent provision of new schools to meet demand for places within a defined area.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many ex gratia payments have been made by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to tenants in each year since 2001; and what the (a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average payment was.

David Hanson: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of payments Highest payment () Lowest payment () Average payment () 
		
		
			 200102 29 4,600 56 745 
			 200203 22 3,354 60 915 
			 200304 6 5,500 251 1,528 
			 200405 12 3,116 55 666

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been awarded maximum points for intimidation under the Housing Executive's Housing Selection Scheme where the reason was that there was a serious risk of a person being killed or seriously injured as a result of (a) a tenant attack, (b) a racial attack, (c) a sectarian attack and (d) an attack motivated by hostility to a person's sexual orientation or disability.

David Hanson: There are 253 cases on the Housing Executive waiting list with the maximum number of points for intimidation. The Housing Executive does not have a breakdown of the exact reason for the intimidation but it is in the process of upgrading its computer system so that in the future the reasons for the award of intimidation points can be recorded.

Planning Site Visits

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning site visits each of the local councils in Northern Ireland made in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Information about planning site visits made by local government councils is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Police

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the first sod to be cut in Cookstown for the new police academy.

Shaun Woodward: Subject to final decisions on the most appropriate funding arrangement the police hope to commence construction of the new Police College in the summer of 2007.

Police

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  when the Police Service of Northern Ireland diving unit was last provided with new diving suits and equipment; and what resources and equipment are available to the unit;
	(2)  what the (a) size and (b) composition of the Police Service of Northern Ireland diving unit is; what its budget was in each of the last five financial years; and what its allocation is for 200506.

Shaun Woodward: This is an operational matter for the chief constable, who will write to the hon. Lady. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Police

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were involved in Operation Viper.

Shaun Woodward: Operation Viper is aimed at reducing the number of deaths on our roads and identifies drivers who break the law. Police target dangerous and careless drivers, motorists travelling with excess speed or not wearing a seat belt, and drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
	Operation Viper is information and intelligence led. It is enacted on a number of occasions throughout the year and the number of officers deployed on each operation varies. The allocation of resources is a matter for the Chief Constable.

Police

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Police Service of Northern Ireland speeding or road tax detection units there were on the Bangor to Belfast road between the hours of 9am and 1pm on 24 July.

Shaun Woodward: Between 9am and 1pm on 24 July 2005, one mobile road safety camera unit from Belfast was deployed with responsibility to patrol, among other roads, the A2 between Tillysburn roundabout and Abbey Street, Bangor.
	At the same time, one mobile road safety unit from Antrim was deployed with responsibility to patrol, among other roads, the Sydenham bypass between Tillysburn roundabout and the M3.

Private Rented Housing

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that (a) landlords and (b) tenants in the private rented sector in Northern Ireland are made aware of their (i) responsibilities and (ii) rights.

David Hanson: The draft Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, recently published for consultation by the Department for Social Development, includes provisions to allow the Department for Social Development and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to publish information on the rights and duties of landlords under the order and under the Rent (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

Private Rented Housing

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to regulate the private rented housing sector in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: At present, all private tenancies are governed by some of the provisions of the Rent (Northern Ireland) Order 1978. The main measures in place to regulate the sector are that all tenants must be provided with a rent book, must be given four weeks notice to quit when a tenancy is being brought to an end, and cannot be subjected to illegal eviction or harassment.
	In the case of rents, regulation or control applies only to that section of the private rented sector subject to protected and statutory tenancies under the 1978 order. Some of these dwellings are in very good repair while others are not fit for human habitation. Security of tenure and the right to pass on a tenancy to a resident family member, likewise, only applies to such tenancies. Other tenancies are governed almost entirely by their tenancy agreements.
	The Rent (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 has been reviewed by the Department for Social Development and a draft Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 has recently been published for consultation. This order provides a more comprehensive regulatory framework for the private rented sector than currently exists.

Private Rented Housing

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to make disputes between landlords and tenants in the private rented sector subject to arbitration.

David Hanson: The Department for Social Development and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive published their joint strategy for the private rented sector, entitled Renting Privately: a strategic framework, in May 2004. This includes an objective to research and evaluate the need for an arbitration service and to conduct a pilot voluntary disputes project. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has commissioned research from the University of Ulster and a report is expected shortly.

Restorative Justice

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the implementation of Recommendation 144 of the Criminal Justice Review on the piloting and evaluation of restorative justice schemes published by the Northern Ireland Office in March 2000.

David Hanson: Careful consideration is currently being given to an externally commissioned evaluation of the Youth Conferencing Service which was recently extended to cater for juvenile offenders up to and including 17 years of age.
	The potential for developing a similar service to deal with low level adult offending will be considered in light of further experience in operating the Youth Conference model.

Restorative Justice

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it remains his policy that a full-time member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland must be present at and actively participate in all stages of any community restorative justice scheme funded by his Department.

David Hanson: There is a statutory obligation for the attendance of police officers at all restorative justice youth conferences operated by the Youth Justice Agency and there are no plans to provide that this role be fulfilled by anyone other than a full-time member of Police Service of Northern Ireland.
	Separate guidelines being developed for the operation of community-based restorative justice schemes also require schemes to work with criminal justice agencies, including the police, as recommended by the report of the Review of the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland.

Restorative Justice

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that persons convicted of scheduled offences in Northern Ireland will be barred from participation in any community restorative justice schemes funded by his Department.

David Hanson: The draft guidelines which are currently being developed will include a role for the Criminal Justice Inspectorate (Northern Ireland) in determining the suitability of staff employed by community-based restorative justice schemes.

Road Safety

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce the age for free renewal of driving licences to 65-years in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: There are currently no plans to reduce the age for free renewal of driving licences to 65-years in Northern Ireland.

Speed Cameras

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been raised from speed cameras in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued for excess speed since 2001 (the farthest back that records are held) that have been paid are:
	
		
			  FPNs issued Fine levied per FPN () Revenue generated () 
		
		
			 2001 10,750 60 645,000 
			 2002 16,170 60 970,200 
			 2003 12,913 60 774,780 
			 2004 12,010 60 720,600 
			 2005 (up to 21 October)8,799 60 527,940 
		
	
	Where previously all of the fine revenue generated by safety cameras operated in Northern Ireland was paid into the UK Consolidated Fund, legislation was recently introduced that now allows the PSNI to recover costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the Northern Ireland Safety
	The mechanisms necessary to facilitate the return of these monies are currently being established; whereupon the funds will be used to develop the scheme through the deployment of additional cameras that can be used to reduce road traffic collisions.

Surplus School Places

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how his Department estimates the number of surplus places in schools in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: I would refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 28 October 2005, Official Report, column 665W.

Voter Registration

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in the numbers registered to vote in each Westminster constituency in Northern Ireland has been since the introduction of individual registration in each year.

David Hanson: The following table shows the number of people registered to vote in each year in each Westminster constituency in Northern Ireland since the introduction of individual registration in 2002. It also includes the 1 April 2005 Register which included the 70,363 former electors who appeared in the 1 September 2004 Register but who did not appear in the register published on 1 December 2004, and were added to the register under the provisions of the Electoral Registration (NI) Act 2005.
	
		Electorate figures since 2002
		
			 Constituency/ year 1 December 2002 2 February 2004 1 December 2004 1 April 2005 
		
		
			 Belfast East 50,929 50,005 48,503 53,176 
			 Belfast North 49,937 49,114 46,008 52,853 
			 Belfast South 49,349 49,403 46,718 52,668 
			 Belfast West 48,153 47,183 46,054 53,831 
			 East Antrim 54,569 54,727 53,307 58,335 
			 East Londonderry55,466 55,260 54,759 58,861 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 63,010 62,993 61,774 67,174 
			 Foyle 62,801 62,404 61,386 69,207 
			 Lagan Valley 65,939 65,642 65,837 70,742 
			 Mid Ulster 58,810 58,950 58,346 62,666 
			 Newry and Armagh66,802 67,433 66,593 72,448 
			 North Antrim 69,728 69,942 70,087 74,450 
			 North Down 56,606 56,137 54,734 59,748 
			 South Antrim 62,349 62,983 60,315 66,931 
			 South Down 68,317 68,515 68,022 73,668 
			 Strangford 65,558 64,796 63,882 69,040 
			 Upper Bann 67,595 67,713 67,033 72,402 
			 West Tyrone 56,507 55,960 54,243 60,286 
			 Total 1,072,425 1,069,160 1,047,601 1,148,486 
		
	
	It should be noted that due to the Northern Ireland Assembly elections taking place in November 2003, the publication of the 2003 Register which would have been published on 1 December 2003 was postponed until 2 February 2004.

Youth Conferences

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) diversionary and (b) court-ordered youth conferences have been established under the terms of Part IV of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002.

David Hanson: To the end of September 2005, there have been 100 diversionary and 216 court ordered youth conferences.